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PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

The  Estate  of 
Rev.  Robert  0,  Kirkwood 

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HISTORY 


OF   THE 


REFOEMED  CHURCH 


OF 


TAPPAN,   N.   Y 


PREPARED   FOR   ITS   TWO    HUNDREDTH   ANNIVERSARY 
BY 

REV.   DAVID  COLE,    D.D. 

Pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  nf  Yonkers,  N.    Y. 


NEW  YORK 

Press  op  Stettiner,  Lambert  vfc  Co. 

33,  34  &  36  Reade  Street 

1894 


LIST  OF  e:n^grayii^gs. 


1.  Portrait  of  Author  of  this  History. 

2.  Coat  of  Arms  of  William  of  Orangx'. 

3.  Map  of  Village  of  Tappan  in  1894, 

4.  The  Eeformed  Church  built  in  1835, 

5.  Washington  Headquarters, 

6.  Seventy-Six  Stone  House. 

7.  First  Church,  built  in  1716,      . 
9.  Portrait  of  John  J.  Lansing,    . 

8.  Church  as  rebuilt  in  1788, 

10.  Group  Portrait  of  Jacob  J.  Lansing  and  Family 

11.  Portrait  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole, 

12.  Portrait  of  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt, 

13.  The  Parsonage, 

14.  Portrait  of  Rev.  W.  Hall  Williamson, 

15.  Portrait  of  Rev.  Matthew  N.  Oliver, 

16.  Autographs, 

1.  Of  Founder  and  Pastors. 

2.  Of  First  and  Second  Voorlesers. 

3.  Of  the  Land  Donors  of  1729. 

4.  Of  Harmanus  Van  Huysen. 

5.  Of  the  three  principal  Choristers. 


Facing  title  page 

Title  page 

Facing  Preface 

Following  Preface 

.     Facing  page  4 

"      4 

.      Page  16 

Facing  page  72 

'  76 

'  82 

'  91 

'  110 

'  118 

'  117 

'  121 

'  130 


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PEEFATOEY   STATEME:N'T. 


The  preparation  of  this  history  grew  out  of  the  following 
action  taken  by  the  Tappan  Consistorj^,  February  27,  1801, 
and  forwarded  to  me  without  delay  : 

"  Whereas,  The  Reformed  Church  of  Tappan,  N.  Y.,  is  nearing  the 
two  hundredth  anniversary  of  its  existence  ;  and  Whereas,  It  has  had 
a  distinct  history,  worthy  of  perpetuation,  such  as  few  churches  in 
America  possess  ;  and  WJiereas,  Such  perpetuation  is  due  to  the 
memory  of  those  who  have  laboi'ed  for  its  welfare  and  Hved  in  its 
communion,  and  will  show  to  the  descendants  of  those  honorable 
ancestors  how  worthy  the  church  of  their  fathers  is  of  their  fostering 
care  ;  and  Whereas,  Many  details  of  such  history  will  soon  pass 
beyond  recovery  if  not  put  into  permanent  form ;  therefore 

"  J5e  it  resolved,  That  the  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.D.,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
son  of  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  revered  pastors  of  this  church,  be 
invited  and  requested  to  write  such  history,  and  that  he  be  granted 
access,  for  such  purpose,  to  all  the  documents  of  the  church," 

The  Tappan  church  is  the  church  of  my  ancestors  and  the 
church  to  which  my  father  gave  his  entire  settled  ministry, 
with  the  exception  of  one  single  year.  It  is  the  church  in 
which,  more  than  fifty-one  years  ago,  I  first  surrendered 
myself  to  the  Master  whom  it  has  been  my  life  privilege  to 
serve,  and  in  which  my  first  ofi&cial  church  relation  was 
assumed  and  borne.  Familiar  as  I  have  been  with  its  history, 
this  action  of  its  Consistory,  coming  to  me  without  premoni- 
tion, seemed  to  me  a  mandate  from  God  which  I  did  not  dare 
disobey.     The  work  is  now  done,'  and  is  herewith  dedicated  to 

»  During  the  passage  of  the  history  through  the  press  the  Consistory 
have  sent  to  me  an  urgent  request  that  my  own  porti-ait  be  given  with 
the  work  and  placed  in  the  position  it  is  seen  to  occupy.  This  state- 
ment is  due  to  myself,  as  the  portrait  would  never  have  accompanied 
the  work  from  any  choice  of  my  own. 


iv  PREFATORY   STATEMENT. 

the  church  whose  stones  and  dust  are  dear  to  me.  It  is  too 
much  to  hope  that  as  a  history  it  is  without  defects.  But  no 
toil  has  been  spared  to  make  it  full  and  correct.  To  some  most 
important  business  matters  of  the  church  its  minutes  and 
records  make  no  allusion.  Some  of  this  oversight  is  remedied, 
however,  by  loose  papers  yet  in  possession,  many  of  them 
much  decayed,  which  come  down  from  various  dates  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  some  of  it  has  been  met  by  my  own 
and  others'  distinct  memories  of  the  last  sixty  years.  I  am 
satisfied  that  nothing  of  essential  importance  has  been  lost. 

Throughout  the  work  proper  acknowledgments  have  been 
made  to  living  persons  whose  contributions  have  helped  to 
enrich  it.  The  present  pastor  and  his  Consistory,  and  several 
members  of  the  church  and  congregation,  have  been  untiring 
in  their  sympathy  and  co-operation.  It  will  not  be  deemed 
invidious  if  I  return  special  thanks  to  the  venerable  James 
Verbryck,  Esq.,  for  valuable  family  information.  The  ex- 
cellent map  of  the  village  was  drawn  by  Mr.  Matthew  K. 
Couzens,  of  Yonkers,  a  very  skilful  professional  draughtsman, 
on  the  basis  of  drawings  furnished  by  Mr.  Edwin  Lydecker,  of 
Orangeburgh,  N.  Y.,  a  member  and  often  an  ofiicer  of  the 
Tappan  church.  It  will  greatly  help  to  understand  the  his- 
tory, and  especially  it  will  make  clear  the  lay  and  dimensions 
of  the  original  parsonage  glebe.  Its  eastern  and  southern 
boundaries  were,  respectively,  the  Sparkill  Creek  and  the  Old 
Tappan  Road.  Its  western  limit  was  approximately  the  map 
line  west  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad.  Its  northern  limit 
would  be  nearly  indicated  by  a  line  drawn  from  this  last- 
mentioned  line  across  to  the  Sparkill  Creek  through  points 
about  four  hundred  feet  north  of  the  *'01d  School  House.'' 
The  west  and  north  lines  were  irregular,  and  can  be  strictly 
traced  only  by  comparison  with  the  original  deed  I  have  given. 
All  other  matters  will  become  clear  by  comparing  the  history 
with  the  map  itself. 

D.  C. 
Parsonage  of  the  Fiust  Reformed  Church, 
Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  October,  1894. 


Original  Organization,  October  24,  1694. 

First  Church  B^ilt,  1716. 
Rebuilt  with  Enlargement,  1788. 
Present  Church  Built,  1835. 


FOUJSTDER  A:^D  PASTOES. 


1.  Rev.  GuiiiiAM  Bertholf, 1694-1724 

2.  Rev.  Frederic  Muzelius, 1727-1749 

3.  Rev.  Sa^iuel  Verbryck, 1750-1784 

4.  Rev.  Nicholas  Lansing, 1784-1835 

5.  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole 1829-1833,  1834-1864 

6.  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blatjvelt, 1864-1882 

7.  Rev.  W.  Hall  Williamson, 1882-1889 

8.  Rev.  Matthew  N.  Oliver, 1890- 


TABLE  OF  OOl^TEI^TS. 


1.  Sketch  of  Founding  and  Growth  of  Tappan,     .... 

2.  Period  of  Rev.  Guiliam  Bertholf  as  Acting  Pastor  of  the 

Church, 

3.  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Frederic  Muzelius, 

4.  Period  of  Conflict,       .... 

5.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  Samuel  Verbryck 

6.  The  Schismatic  Church, 23, 

7.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Lansing 

8.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole, 

9.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt, 

10.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  W.  Hall  Williamson, 

11.  Pastoral  Period  of  Rev.  Matthew  N.  Oliver,     . 

12.  Closing  Statements  and  Thoughts, 

13.  Appendix  : 

1.  Elders  and  Deacons,  1694-1894, 

2.  Church  Members,  1694-1894,      . 


PASES. 

1-7 


8-20 

21-46 

25-46 

47-71 

24,  44-62 

72-90 

91-109 

110-116 

117-120 

121-125 

125-130 

131-140 
141-168 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  TAPPAN 


No  white  man  ever  owned  land  in  the  neighborhood  of 
this  church  before  1640.  In  February  of  that  year  Captain 
David  Pietersen  de  Vries,  an  enterprising  Holland  settler, 
visited  the  region  and  admired  its  natural  features.  On 
the  15th  of  April  he  bought  five  hundred  acres  of  its  occu- 
pants, the  Tappan  family  of  Indians.  His  purchase  corre- 
sponded very  nearly  with  what  we  include  under  the  name 
of  Tappan.  He  called  it  Vriesendael,  and  began  at  once  to 
gather  a  colony  upon  it.  He  had  erected  several  buildings, 
had  given  considerable  start  to  the  place,  and  was  progress- 
ing finely,  when,  in  1643,  the  savages  turned  upon  him 
and  burned  all  his  accumulations.  In  disgust  over  their 
treachery  and  his  irreparable  loss,  he  not  only  abandoned 
this  ground,  but  at  once  returned  to  his  native  land  and 
never  saw  these  Western  shores  again. 

No  further  attempt  was  made  at  organized  settlement 
here  for  more  than  forty  years.  In  1664  New  Netherland 
was  surrendered  to  the  Enghsh,  and  in  1674  it  was  con- 
firmed to  them  by  treaty.  In  16S3  the  Province  of  New 
York  was  divided  into  ten  counties.  One  of  these  was 
Orange  County,  which  for  more  than  a  century  afterward, 
down  to  February  23,  1798,  included  what  has,  from  that 
date,  been  distinct  as  the  county  of  Rockland.  The  Re- 
formed Church  of  Tappan,  organized  October  24,  1694, 
was  therefore,  throughout  its  first  hundred  years  of  exist- 
ence, in  the  county  of  Orange. 
1 


2        '*TAPPAN  patent" — PATENTEES— CENSUS. 

In  1686  conditions  here  had  become  more  favorable  for 
settlement.  Thomas  Dongan  had  been  appointed  Governor 
of  the  Province  of  New  York,  Orange  County  had  been  con- 
stituted, the  savages  were  no  longer  a  terror,  and  there  was 
fair  promise  of  security  for  incomers.  Some  families  were 
already  on  the  ground.  On  the  24th  of  March,  1686,  six- 
teen farmers  joined'  in  applying  to  Governor  Dongan  for  a 
grant  of  land  substantially  coincident  with  the  present 
town  of  Orangetown.  Of  course  they  were  successful. 
Their  grant  was  called  the  "Tappan"  or  "Orangetown 
Patent."  It  bound  the  patentees  to  pay  annually  to  the 
representative  of  the  English  Crown  in  New  York  City 
sixteen  bushels  of  good  marketable  wheat.  The  land  of 
the  patent  was  called  " Navassunk, "  or  "Good  Land,"  at 
least  down  to  1769. 

Seven  years  later,  in  1693,  one  year  before  this  church 
was  organized,  a  census  reported  as  residing  wholly  within 
the  Tappan  patent  20  families,  containing  219  persons. 
And  nine  years  later  still,  in  1702,  another  census  reported 
upon  the  larger  field  of  Orange  County  entire  but  40  white 
families,  with  54  men,  40  women,  and  141  children.  In 
the  possession  of  these  families  were  33  negroes.  Accord- 
ing to  this  census  the  whole  population  of  the  county,  not 
including  Indians,  was  268.  Many  of  the  surnames  it 
returned  are  still  represented  in  this  region,  some  of  them 
by  many  families.  More  than  a  score  of  them  enter  from 
the  beginning  into  the  records  of  this  church.'' 

'  The  names  of  these  patentees,  arranged  in  alphabetical  order  and 
spelled  in  the  forms  most  frequent  in  the  subsequent  Tappan  church 
records,  are:  Lambert  Ariaensen,  Cornelius  Claesen  Cooper  (or  Cuy- 
per),  Daniel  de  Clerck,  Staats  de  Groot,  John  de  Vries.  Senr.,  John 
de  Vries,  Junr.,  Huybert  Gerritse,  Johannes  Gerritse,  Cosyn  Haring, 
Pieter  Haring,  Adriaen  Lambertsen,  Cornelius  Lambertsen,  Claes 
Maunde,  Gerrit  Steynmets,  John  Stratemaker,  and  Iden  Van  Vorst. 

Some  of  them  are  found  in  the  later  church  records  with  their  sur- 
names added,  thus:  Lambert  Ariaensen  Smith,  Huybert  Gerritsen 
Blauvelt,  Johannes  Gerritsen  Blauvelt,  Adriaen  Lambertsen  Smith, 
Cornelius  Lambertsen  Smith. 

'-'The  surnames  referred  to  were:  Ariaensen,  Blauvelt,  Brett,  Cas- 
persen,   CennifF,   Claesen,   Conklin,   Crom,  Cuyper  (or  Cooper),  de 


POPULATION — EARLY  BUILDINGS.  3 

Before  leaving  this  subject  I  will  give  figures  showing 
the  growth  of  the  population  from  1694,  when  this  church 
w^as  organized.  In  1712  it  w^as  439.  In  1723  it  had  in- 
creased to  1,244,  and  for  the  first  time  had  outgrown  the 
limits  of  Orange  town.  By  1727  the  new  village  of  Goshen 
had  been  started  in  the  northwest  of  the  county,  and  to  ac- 
commodate the  people  so  far  away  from  Tappan,  where  all 
county*business  had  been  transacted  since  the  county  was 
set  off,  this  was  now  added  as  a  second  county  town.  In 
1737  the  population  of  the  entire  county  of  Orange  was 
2,840;  in  1746  it  was  3,268;  in  1749,  3,674;  in  1771,  9,430; 
and  in  1790,  29, 000.  The  early  growth  w^as  necessarily  slow. 
But  let  us  now  return  to  the  settlement  of  1686,  taking  up 
the  work  life  of  the  Tappan  community  from  its  start. 

Of  course  any  new  colony  w^ould  be  compelled  at  once  to 
erect  dwellings,  however  rude,  and,  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
to  develop  industries  for  its  living,  and  civic  organizations 
for  its  regulation  and  defence.  And  an  already  well- 
trained  and  religious  people,  like  our  Hollanders,  would  be 
sure  to  add  to  these  matters,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  church 
and  a  school.  Let  us  look  at  the  illustration  of  this  fur- 
nished here  in  the  years  onward  from  1686. 

The  first  dwellings  of  this  people  were  built  of  logs,  tim- 
ber being  abundant  in  the  neighborhood.  It  w^as  not 
long,  however,  before  a  few  more  substantial  houses  were 
erected.  The  oldest  of  these  was  the  brick  and  stone  house 
still  standing,  though  much  changed  in  appearance,  and 
now  so  generally  known  as  the  "Washington  Headquar- 
ters." It  was  built  by  John  Stratemaker,  one  of  the  six- 
teen original  patentees,  and  in  the  year  1700,  as  we  know 
from  figures  wa'ought  into  its  front  w^all.  Its  builder  owned 
it  four  years.     In  1704  he  sold  it  to  Dirk^Stratemaker;  the 

Clerck,  de  Puy,  de  Vries,  Flierboom,  Gerritsen,  Hansen,  Haring, 
Hendricksen,  Hey,  Huybrecht,  Jansen,  Juell,  Kool  (Cool  or  Cole), 
Lambertsen,  Mek,  Melgertsen,  Heyer,  Merritt,  Minnelay,  Mynersen, 
Storm,  Straat,  Taelman,  Tjercksen,  Van  Houten,  Waard,  Weller, 
Wey. 

All  these  people  had  their  homes  within  the  limits  of  Orangetown. 
No  census  earlier  than  that  of  1723  i-eported  a  single  resident  outside 
the  limits  of  this  town. 


4  BUILDINGS— INDUSTRIES. 

deed  of  conveyance  is  still  extant.  The  second  owner,  in 
his  turn,  sold  it  to  Kem  Eemsen  of  Long  Island,  and  the 
latter  again  deeded  it  May  1,  1746,  to  Johannes  De  Wint,' 
a  wealthy  planter  from  the  West  Indies,  in  whose  posses- 
sion and  that  of  his  heirs  it  remained  till  long  after  the 
Revolutionary  War.  From  him  it  derived  the  name  of  the 
De  Wint  House,  by  which  it  is  often  called  even  yet ;  its 
most  popular  name,  however,  is  the  one  first  mentioned. 
Washington  often  availed  himself  of  its  hospitality  during 
the  Eevolution.  He  first  visited  it  in  August,  1780  ;  he 
sojourned  in  it  from  September  28  to  October  7  of  the  same 
year — a  week  made  memorable  by  the  trial  and  execution 
of  Major  John  Andre.  And  more  than  once  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  it  again  in  1783.  These  events  have  made  the 
house  of  great  interest  to  the  antiquarian.  Besides  this 
house  a  few  others  came  into  being,  not  at  once,  but  in 
the  comparatively  early  days  of  the  settlement.  The  Re- 
formed Church  Parsonage  and  the  '76  Stone  House  are 
among  the  oldest  of  these.  The  latter  was  built  by  Cas- 
parus  Mabie  in  1755;  of  the  former  we  shall  speak  later  on. 
But  during  at. least  half  of  the  first  century,  say  down  to 
1750,  many  dwellings  continued  to  be  built  of  logs,  as 
stated  above. 

The  first  industries  of  the  residents,  of  course,  grew,  not 
out  of  plan,  but  out  of  the  demands  of  their  condition. 
The  staple  industry  from  the  beginning  could  not  have 
been  anything  but  farming.  But  as  timber  had  to  be  felled 
and  prepared  for  building,  and  grain  had  to  be  ground  for 
use,  woodcutting  and  milling  as  occupations  must  have 
come  in  immediately.  Streams  were  at  hand,  and  mill 
power  was  easily  commanded.  And  the  industry  of  build- 
ing called  for  carpenters  and  masons.  Of  course  there 
must  have  been  need  almost  at  once  for  what  we  call  labor- 

'  He  was  of  the  same  family  with  Mrs.  Catharina  De  Wint,  widow 
of  Jan  Jansen  De  Wint,  who  in  1759  bequeathed  to  our  Reformed 
church  at  St.  Thomas,  W.  I.,  the  valuable  estate  called  Catharinaberg 
(see  Corwin's  Manual,  p.  644).  Was  he  her  son?  His  wife's  name 
was  Antje  Carmer.  They  had  several  children  baptized  at  Tap  pan. 
Their  oldest  daughter,  Anna  Maria  De  Wint,  married  Fredericus  Blau- 
velt,  a  major  in  the  British  army  under  George  the  Second. 


"...         "'^" 


WASHINGTON    HEADQUARTERS 


THE    76    STONE    HOUSE 


These  pictures  are  from  photographs  furiiishi-ci  by  Dr.  James  J.  Steplieiis.  Tliey  were 
taken  about  1878.  "The  Stone  House,"  tlien  in  good  condition,  was  taken  on  the 
spot.  "The  Headquarters,'"  mucli  changed  by  frame  additions,  had  to  be  obtained  from 
an  older  picture.  The  house,  as  given  on  this  page,  is  faithfully  time  to  the  original  as  I 
first  saw  it  in  1H29,  and  as  it  remained  for  many  years  aftei  waul  under  the  ownership  of 
Mr.  Arthur  Johnson 


CIVIC   DEVELOPMENT — FIRST   COURT   HOUSE.  5 

ing  men  in  all  departments  of  work.  But  the  staple  peo- 
ple were  the  holders  of  the  farms.  Let  us  try  to  think  of 
the  situation  of  these  holders.  Their  land  had  scarcely  ap- 
preciable value.  The  whole  Tappan  or  Orangetown  patent 
was  perhaps  ten  miles  long  and  from  two  to  five  miles 
wide.  It  had  been  a  grant  to  the  founders  of  the  settle- 
ment |or  the  insignificant  tax  of  16  bushels  of  wheat  each 
year.  There  was  almost  no  market  for  produce.  New 
York  City  at  this  time  did  not  contain  more  than  5,000  peo- 
ple. Money  was  a  rarity.  Tea,  coffee,  and  also  sugar,  ex- 
cept from  the  maples,  were  unknown.  All  the  raw  mate- 
rial for  building  and  clothing  was  raised  by  every  one  for 
himself.  The  wool  and  the  flax  were  home  products,  and 
every  family  spun,  wove,  and  made  up  what  it  required 
for  its  own  needs.  Leather  shoes  even  yet  are  very  little 
used  among  the  peasantry  in  Holland.  Probably  the  set- 
tlers here  in  1686  knew  nothing  of  them  at  all.  Many  peo- 
ple still  live  who  well  remember  sixty  years  ago  and  more, 
when  manufacturing,  as  we  now  have  it,  was  unknown  in 
this  country,  and  when  the  primitive  conditions  I  have  de- 
scribed still  prevailed.  These  will  have  no  difficulty  in  ap- 
preciating what  I  have  been  trying  to  impress  as  the  indus- 
trial conditions  of  Tappan  from  two  hundred  down  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago. 

Next  came  the  civic  development.  The  county  of 
Orange,  as  stated,  had  been  erected  in  1683.  Orangetown 
was  its  first  county  town  and  Tappan  was  its  first  county 
seat.  There  was  probably  very  little  use  for  courts  at  the 
start.  But  they  had  to  be  constituted  as  essential  to  a 
county  equipment.  As  early  as  1699  the  Colonial  Legisla- 
ture directed  that  Courts  of  Sessions  and  Pleas  should  be 
held  at  Tappan.  The  first  court  of  which  records  speak  was 
held  in  1Y05.  No  doubt  the  courts  were  held  in  a  log  hut 
for  the  first  forty  years.  The  first  Court  House  of  solid 
construction  was  built  in  1739.  It  stood  within  two  hun- 
dred feet  of  this  church  lot,  on  the  adjoining  plain,  within 
the  triangular  space  enclosed  by  the  three  roads,  and  on  land 
which,  as  we  shall  see,  belonged  to  this  church.  It  must 
have  been  one  of  the  few  brick  and  stone  structures  of 


6  STARTING  OF  THE   SCHOOL. 

which  I  have  spoken.  Its  foundation  stones  were  still  seen 
within  my  own  memory ;  and,  indeed,  I  understand  that 
the  last  of  them  have  been  cleared  away  only  in  very  re- 
cent years.  The  house  was  burned  in  1774,  and  not  rebuilt 
in  Tappan.  The  courts  were  at  once  removed  to  New  City, 
where  temporary  accommodations  were  provided  for  them 
till  1798.  Then,  upon  the  erection  of  Eockland  as  a  county 
by  itself,  New  City  was  adopted  as  its  county  town  and  seat. 
The  first  new  Court  House  there  was  built  in  1798  or  1799. 
In  these  ways,  under  the  lead  and  pressure  of  necessity, 
sprang  up  the  homes,  the  industries,  and  the  civic  organi- 
zation of  the  Tappan  community  two  centuries  ago.  Be- 
fore I  take  up  the  church,  which  will  be  my  principal  sub- 
ject, let  me  speak  of  the  starting  of  the  school.  We  are 
told  that  this  came  in  soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
church  in  1694.  No  doubt  it  was  introduced  as  early  as 
possible,  as  Hollanders  always  began  the  school  with  the 
least  possible  delay  wherever  they  went.  But  we  are  also 
told  that  the  first  school  teacher  was  Hermanns  Van 
Huysen  (see  Beers  &  Co.'s  "Rockland  County  History,"  p. 
199).  This  could  not  have  been  so,  unless  there  were  two 
men  of  this  name,  of  which  I  find  no  evidence.  The  only 
Hermanus  Van  Huysen  on  the  church  records  married 
Sara  Blauvelt,  June  25,  1749.  The  marriage  is  entered 
on  the  Hackensack  book.  The  entry  states  that  both  were 
at  the  time  young  people.  The  husband  was  received  into 
the  Tappan  church  by  profession  October  2,  1751,  and  the 
wife  December  27,  1753.  All  this  makes  it  certain  that 
Hermanus  was  not  born  till  long  after  the  Tappan  church 
was  organized.  Certainly  there  were  other  teachers  be- 
fore him,  but  for  some  reason,  either  through  his  superior- 
ity as  a  man  or  a  teacher,  or  through  his  prominence 
among  the  people  in  general  matters,  he  made  himself  felt 
more  than  had  his  predecessors,  and  so  secured  for  himself 
a  more  enduring  fame. ' 

'  In  thinking  over  the  first  school  at  Tappan  I  am  aided  by  a  mem- 
ory. In  my  chiklhood  the  "  district  school  "  house  stood  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  to  the  north  of  the  church  on  the  Greenbush  (Blauvelt- 
ville)  road.     The  building,  of  brick  and  stone,  was  very  old,  one  of  the 


THE   CHURCH— GUILIAM   BERTHOLF.  7 

And  now  we  come  to  the  founding  of  the  church,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1694.  The  colony  was  at  this  time  eight  years  old. 
As  we  have  seen,  it  had  grown  to  20  white  families,  con- 
taining 219  persons.  All  its  houses  down  to  1700,  and  most 
of  them  for  many  years  later,  were  built  of  logs.  No 
sohd  church  building  was  erected  till  1716,  and  this  makes 
it  probable  that  the  church  services  for  the  twenty-two 
years*that  preceded  that  date  were  held  in  a  log  house.  As 
the  colony  grew  a  few  Huguenots  joined  it.  Their  names 
appear  upon  the  church  records.  Every  family  of  the 
locahty  for  several  years  frofii  the  start,  whether  Holland 
or  Huguenot,  was  of  Reformed  Church  antecedents  and 
had  an  instinctive,  birthright  attachment  to  the  Reformed 
Church.  So  the  first  church  here  was  among  an  absolutely 
united  people.  It  had  the  whole  locahty  to  itself.  It 
might  be  asked  why,  with  this  advantage,  it  did  not  per- 
manently and  for  aU  time  hold  what  was  at  one  period 
so  entirely  its  own.  The  history  to  follow  will  make  the 
answer  sufficiently  clear. 

Till  February,  1694,  there  was  no  ordained  Reformed 
Church  minister  upon  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey 
ground  now  covered  by  Orange,  Rockland,  and  Bergen 
counties.  In  that  month  a  very  pious  Hollander,  who  had 
been  in  America  since  1684,  became  ordained  pastor  of  the 
then  recently  formed  churches  of  Hackensack  and  Ac- 
quackanonck  (now  Passaic).  His  name  was  Guiliam  (or 
Wilham)  Bertholf.  He  founded  this  church  and  directed 
all  its  operations  throughout  its  first  thirty  years  of  exist- 
ence, though  he  was  never  its  pastor  by  installation.  A 
sketch  of  his  life  and  work  will  now  be  in  order. 

early  solid  buildings  to  which  I  have  alluded.  It  had  been  built  for 
the  school  and  the  teacher's  residence  under  the  same  roof.  In  church 
minutes  of  January,  1786,  it  is  already  spoken  of  as  the  "  old  "  school 
house.  The  church  owned  the  ground  all  around  it  and  was  selling 
this  ground  at  that  time.  It  owned  the  very  site  itself,  having  long 
before  conceded  its  use  for  school  purposes.  The  building  had  come  in 
with  the  ei-a  of  solid  buildings,  perhaps  about  the  time  that  Hermanus 
Van  Huysen  came  to  manhood.  He  may  have  been  the  first  teacher 
in  this  first  substantial  school  house,  and  in  this  way  come  to  fill  the 
place  he  occupies  in  tradition  as  the  first  teacher  of  the  settlement. 


EEV.  GUILIAM  BERTHOLF. 

{Acting  Pastor  at  Tappan,  169 1^.-172 J^.^ 

He  was  born  in  Sluis,  a  fortified  town  of  Holland,  on  the 
frontier  of  Belgium,  in  the  Province  of  Zeeland.  The 
French  call  the  town  L'Ecluse.  Both  names  mean 
''  sluice  "  or  "  floodgate,"  and  are  no  doubt  derived  from  a 
local  feature.  Under  the  ecclesiastical  organization  of 
Holland  the  old  Reformed  church  of  Sluis  belonged  to  the 
Classis  of  Middelburg.  I  have  had  its  records  thoroughly 
examined  through  the  kind  assistance  of  the  Rev.  J.  Hen- 
drik  de  Vries,  now  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  of 
Bronxville,  N.  Y.  They  begin  with  October  13,  1528,  and 
come  down  to  now  with  two  short  breaks  of  about 
eighteen  years  each  : 

1.  From  March  22,  1587,  to  January  8,  1605. 

2.  From  1Y08  to  1726. 

Of  these  two  breaks,  the  first  only  interferes  with  our 
work.  The  earliest  Bertholfs  on  this  record  (the  name  is 
entered  with  the  double  spelling  "Bertholff"  or  "  Bar- 
tholff  ")  are  Christoffel  Bertholf  and  Catalyntje  Bachuijs. 
These  were  the  grandparents  of  Domine  Bertholf.  Both 
of  them  were  born  and  baptized  during  the  first  break  in 
the  records,  and  so  I  have  not  the  names  of  their  parents 
nor  the  dates  of  their  own  births  or  baptisms.  But  they 
must  have  been  born  and  baptized  before  1600,  Nor  have 
I  received  the  date  of  their  marriage,  but  it  was  probably 
in  1619.  They  have  three  children  on  the  baptismal  record, 
as  follows : 

1.  Cryn  (for  Quirinus)  Bertholf,  baptized  August  30,  1620.    • 

2.  Geeraert  '^  "         April  22,  1622. 

3.  Jacquemyntje  '*  "        July  28,  1624. 

The  first  of  these  children,  Cryn,  married  Sara  Guiliamse 
Van  Coperen,  daughter  of  Paulus  Guiliamse  Van  Coperen, 


BERTHOLP  AND   VERMEULEN   ANCESTRIES.  9 

baptized  at  Sluis,  March  5,  1620.  The  date  of  her  marriage 
and  the  name  of  her  mother  have  not  come  to  me.  She 
could  not  have  been  man-ied  later  than  1045.  Cryn  Ber- 
tholf  and  Sara  Guiliamse  Van  Coperen  had  nine  children, 
of  whom  the  sixth  was  Domine  Bertholf.  They  were  as 
follows : 

1.  Qatharina  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Sluis,  August  19,  164G. 

2.  Anneke  "  "  "  May  31,  1648. 

3.  Christofieel        "  "  "  May  16,  1650. 

4.  Janneke  "  "  "  July  30,  1651. 

5.  Christoffel       *'  "     "      ''  January  28,  1654. 

6.  Guiliam  "  "  *'  February  20,  1656. 
7    Sara                 *•'              '•'            ''  April  10,  1658. 
S.Abraham         "              "            "            February  29, 1660. 
9.  Elizabeth         ''              *'            *'            April  27,  1661. 

Here  we  have  Domine  Bertholf,  born  at  Sluis,  baptized 
there  February  20,  1656.  We  may  be  sure  he  was  born 
not  more  than  a  week  or  two  before  he  was  baptized. 
Hollanders  baptized  their  children  almost  immediately. 
On  their  church  books  they  recorded  no  date  but  that  of 
the  baptism,  being  satisfied  to  reckon  the  age  of  the  child 
from  it  alone.  No  doubt  their  usage  and  their  strictness  in 
following  it  came  from  the  suggestion  of  the  Jewish  prac- 
tice of  Bible  times. 

Guiham  grew  up  in  his  native  church,  and  was  married 
April  15,  1676,  the  bans  of  his  marriage  having  been 
published  on  the  20th  of  March.  His  wife's  name  in  full 
was  Martyntje  Hendrickse  Vermeulen.  My  Holland  cor- 
respondent says  she  was  a  daughter  of  William  Vermeu- 
len and  Martyntje  Weymoers,  who  -were  married  May  19, 
1649.  All  the  children  of  these  parents,  except  herself,  he 
gives  as  baptized  at  Sluis.  But  he  says  she  was  baptized 
at  Vlissingen  (Flushing),  and  states  that  the  books  of  the 
Flushing  church  with  the  record  of  her  baptism  were 
burned  during  the  bombardment  of  that  place  by  the  Eng- 
hsh  in  1809.  The  other  children,  given  as  her  brothers  and 
sisters,  are  as  follows  : 

1.  Willem  Vermeulen,  baptized  at  Sluis,  March  22,  1650. 

2.  Johanna  *'  ''  "         June  4,  1651. 


10  BERTHOLFS   APPEAR   IN   AMERICA. 

3.  Johannes  Vermeulen,  baptized  at  Sluis,  November  10,  1652. 

4.  Janneke  "  "  ''  November  9,  1G54. 

5.  Nicolaes  "  *'  '*  December  19,  1655. 

6.  Lourens  "  "  "  April  29,  1657. 

7.  Catalina  "  "  "  September  7,  1659. 

8.  Nicolaes  "  "  "  April  10,  1661. 

As  the  parents  of  these  children  were  married  in  1649, 
and  Mrs.  Marty ntje  Bertholf  herself  was  married  April 
15,  1676,  she  could  not  have  been  born  before  the  first  nor 
after  the  last  child  on  this  list.  Her  birth  must  have  oc- 
curred either  in  1653,  between  those  of  Johannes  and  Jan- 
neke, or  in  1660,  between  those  of  Catalina  and  Nicolaes. 
If  she  had  been  born  as  late  as  1662,  she  would  have  been 
but  14  years  old  when  married,  and  but  13  when  she  united 
with  the  church,  an  age  at  which  Holland  parents  gene- 
rally refuse  to  allow  their  children  to  take  this  step.  She 
made  her  profession  of  faith  on  the  19th  of  May,  1675. 
Her  husband  did  not  make  his  till  after  his  marriage,  on 
the  4th  of  April,  1677. 

The  last  entries  we  take  from  the  Holland  records  are 
the  baptisms  of  three  children,  Sara,  Maria,  and  Elizabeth, 
all  born  on  the  other  side.  I  reserve  full  particulars  of 
these  first  children  to  be  given  with  the  full  family  below, 
only  stating  here  that  the  last  one  was  baptized  in  Sluis, 
September  26,  1683,  a  fact  which  will  throw  light  on  the 
time  at  which  the  parents  came  to  America. 

The  old  Reformed  church  of  Bergen,  N.  J.,  was  founded 
in  1660.  I  take  the  following  from  its  record  of  members 
received;  of  course  I  translate  from  the  Dutch,  but  pre- 
serve the  exact  spelling  of  the  names  : 

•''October  6,  1684. — Guillamne  Bertholf  and  his  wife  Mar- 
tyntje  Hendrics,  with  certificate  from  Dutch  Flandres — Sluis 
in  Flandres." 

There  are  also  on  the  same  records  the  baptisms  of  two 
more  of  their  children,  Hendrick  and  Martays  (Martha). 
And  there  is  still  another  child  entered  on  the  record  of  the 
Collegiate  Church  of  New  York  City,  whose  date  is  between 
the  two  just   named.    His  name   is  given   as  Quirinus. 


GUILIAM  ENTERS   THE  MINISTRY.  H 

This  name,  derived  from  that   of    his  grandfather,   was 
perpetuated  in  the  family  for  several  generations. 

So  we  have  proof  that  Guiham  and  Martyntje  Bertholf 
came  to  America  late  in  1683  or  before  October  in  1684. 
They  at  once  connected  themselves  with  the  Bergen  church. 
This  does  not  prove,  however,  that  they  fixed  their  resi- 
dence jn  Bergen.  Biker's  ' '  Harlem  "  says  they  lived  at  Ac- 
quackanonck  till  1690.  Guiham  was  parish  clerk  at  Harlem 
till  September  13,  1691,  and  Voorleser  there  during  the  same 
time.  At  a  later  date— when,  we  do  not  know— he  took  up 
his  abode  in  Hackensack,  wKere  he  had  bought  land,  and 
where  he  continued  to  hve  till  he  completed  his  earthly 
work. 

Why  Guiliam  Bertholf  came  to  America  is  well  known. 
He  was  an  earnest  lover  of  Christ  and  seeker  of  souls.     He 
came  to  instruct   Holland  colonists  in  the  Bible  and  the 
catechism.     He  was  a  man  of  profound  spirituality,  warm 
heart,  great  capacity  for  teaching,  and  of  an  order  at  that 
day  known  as  "  Voorlesers"  and  "  Krankbesoekers  "  (pub- 
lic readers  and  comforters  of  the  sick).     His  office  was 
humble,  but  his  sterling  character  and  his  valuable  gifts  as 
a  leader  of  singing  and  a  pubhc  reader  soon  attracted  gene- 
ral attention  and  were  called  into  requisition  over  all  East 
Jersey  and  all  along  the  Lower  Hudson  outside  the  city  of 
New  York.     The  church  of  Hackensack  was  organized  in 
1686,  and  the  church  of  Acquackanonck  (now  Passaic)  in 
1693.     In  the  latter  year  these  two  churches  united  and  sent 
him  to  Holland,  to  the  Classis  of  Middelburg,  with  request 
to  have  him  examined,  hcensed,  ordained,  and  quahfied 
with  commission  to  become  their  pastor.     The  Classis  ex- 
amined him  at  Flushing  on  the  16th  of  September,  1693. 
On  the  same  day,  under  its  rules,  he  preached  his  trial 
sermon  from  Matt.  xi.  28,  to  the  high  satisfaction  of  Classis. 
His  ordination  and  setting  apart  to  the  care  of  the  two 
churches  in  America  were  carried  through  on  the  same 
day.     Domine  Hugo  Futs,  Adsessor  or  Vice-President  of 
the  Classis,    preached    the    sermon,    and    the    President, 
Domine  Abraham  Duyvelaer,  read  the  form,  after  which 


12  BECOMES   PASTOR   OF   TWO   CHURCHES. 

the  candidate  signed  the  formula  and  the  work  was  com- 
plete. 

The  Domine  at  once  returned  to  America,  arriving  early 
in  1694,  and  entered  upon  his  pastoral  work.  The  follow- 
ing entries  on  the  Hackensack  records  are  in  his  own  hand, 
and  they  give  the  spelling  he  himself  followed  with  his 
own  name.  (The  form  "  Guillaume  "  is  not  on  the  Holland 
records,  nor  do  we  find  it  in  any  writing  of  his  own.  It 
may  have  been  introduced  into  American  papers  by  the 
Huguenot  people,  who  were  numerous  in  Bergen,  Hacken- 
sack, and  even  Tappan  during  the  Domine's  ministry.) 

"On  Feb.  24,  1694 — Arrived  here  from  Zeeland,  Guiliaem 
Bertholf,  with  a  legal  classical  authorization,  to  be  preacher, 
pastor,  and  instructor  of  Acquiggenonck  and  Ackinsack,  and 
has  been  received  by  the  congregation  with  great  affection." 

"  1694 — Begin  the  records  of  me,  Guiliaem  Bertholf,  having 
arrived  here  Feb,  24,  as  lawfully  qualified  pastor.  In  May  we 
partook  for  the  first  time  of  the  Lord's  Supper  with  the  con- 
gregation." (Five  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church  at  this 
communion  season.) 

"  Nov.  15,  1696 — [The  Domine  gives  the  baptism  of  seven 
infants,  and  says]  All  these  were  baptized  after  the  first  sermon 
had  been  preached  on  Psa.  26:8."  (This  was  the  date  of  the 
first  sermon  preached  in  the  first  permanent  church  edifice  ever 
built  in  Hackensack. ) 

So  began  in  1694  a  ministry  continued  till  1724.  The 
Domine  lived  at  least  two  years  after  this  later  date.  He 
officiated  at  a  Tappan  baptism  in  March,  1725,  and  Ave 
have  in  hand  a  deed  from  him  and  his  wife  signed  by  them 
on  the  16th  of  February,  1726."  The  precise  date  of  his 
death  we  do  not  know,  but  the  last  date  just  named  was 

'  A  copy  of  this  deed  has  been  kindly  sent  to  me  by  William  M. 
Johnson,  Esq.,  of  the  law  firm  of  Johnson  &  Ackerman,  of  Hacken- 
sack, from  whom  also  I  learn  that  Domine  Bertholf's  land  in  that 
village  was  situated  on  Main"Street,  just  north  of  the  New  York, 
Susquehanna  &  Western  Railroad.  The  exact  position  of  his  house 
upon  this  land  is  not  known.  He  is  said  to  have  owned  thirty-seven 
acres,  bought  of  Captain  John  Berry  (Romeyn's  "Historical  Dis 
course,"  p.  19). 


FOUNDS   THE   TAPPAN   CHURCH.  13 

within  a  few  days  only  of  his  seventieth  birthday.  So  he 
hved  to  what  we  commonly  call  "the  allotted  age  of  man." 
There  is  a  tradition  that  his  remains  were  buried  under  the 
pulpit  of  the  Hackensack  church. 

Domine  Bertholf ,  during  the  thirty  years  of  his  pastorate 
of  the  Hackensack  and  Aquackanonck  churches,  was  an 
indefatigable  laborer  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  He  was  never 
pastdr  of  any  other  church,  but  he  founded  the  Tappan 
church  in  1694,  and  exercised  vigilant  care  over  it  down  to 
1724.  He  maintained  the  most  minute  supervision  of  its 
records,  which,  in  every  itena.,  are  perfect  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  ministry.  And  for  the  first  fifteen  years  of 
his  work,  down  to  1709,  all  new  Reformed  churches  of  New 
Jersey,  and  some  in  New  York  also,  were  founded  and 
cared  for  by  him.  The  churches  of  Tarrytown  and  Port 
Richmond,  and  the  church  of  Raritan  (or  Somerville),  owe 
their  being  to  him.  It  is  impossible  to  magnify  the  im- 
pulses he  gave  to  the  Lord's  work  in  every  direction — im- 
pulses from  which  many  churches  finally  grew  that  were 
not  organized  till  he  himself  had  passed  away.  Among 
these  last  were  the  churches  of  Ponds,  Preakness,  and 
Belleville.  His  piety  was  deep,  his  judgment  superior,  his 
Biblical  knowledge  great,  his  preaching  reverent  and  spir- 
itual, and  his  intercourse  with  people  cordial  and  magnetic. 
Testimonies  abounded  within  the  memories  of  still  living 
people  to  the  real  worth  of  this  minister  of  Christ,  who  has 
now  passed  out  of  the  knowledge  of  the  church. 

Tradition  says  Domine  and  Mrs.  Bertholf  had  thirteen 
children.  I  have  found  seven  on  the  records  of  Sluis, 
Bergen,  New  York,  and  Hackensack,  and  the  deed  just 
mentioned  as  having  been  signed  by  the  parents  on  the 
16th  of  February,  1726,  is  made  out  to  "our  youngest  son, 
Jacobus."  I  find  also  the  name  of  Catrina  Bertholf,  wit- 
ness at  a  baptism  at  Tappan  in  October,  1730.  Her  name 
occurs  nowhere  else  in  American  records.  Possibly  she 
may  have  been  a  child  of  the  Domine.  But  again  she  may 
have  been  his  sister  Cathariua,  baptized  at  Sluis  in  1646. 
I  can  be  sure  of  but  eight  children,  and  give  them  as 
follows: 


14  BIRTHS   AND   BAPTISMS   OF   HIS   CHILDREN. 

1.  Sara  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Sluis,  April  8, 1677.  Witnesses, 
Pieter  Van  Couenhoven,  Jan  Cornelius  Vermeulen,  Sara 
Guiliamse  Van  Coperen,  and  Marytje  Huybregts. 

2.  Maria  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Sluis,  May  12,  1680.  Wit- 
nesses, Jan  Cornelisen,  Matje  Huybregts. 

3.  Elizabeth  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Sluis,  September  26,  1683. 
Witnesses,  Richard  Van  der  Vyven,  Elizabeth  Jansen. 

4.  Hendrick  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Bergen,  N.  J.,  April  6, 1686. 
Witnesses,  Elias  Magielse,  Catrina  Magi  else. 

o.  Quirinus  (Cryn)  Bertholf,  baptized  in  New  York  City, 
May  16,  1688.     Witnesses,  Simon  Jacobsen,  Catryn  Gerrits. 

6.  Martays  (Martha)  Bertholf,  baptized  at  Bergen,  N.  J., 
March  29,  1692.  Witnesses,  Johannes  Michielse  Vrelandt,  and 
Jannetje  Gerrits,  wife  of  Christoffel  Steynmets. 

7.  Anna  Bertholf,    baptized   at   Hackensack,    February   27, 

1698.     Witnesses,    Daniel    de    ,    Hendrik   Epke,    Wyntje 

Brickers. 

8.  Jacobus  Bertholf.  Baptism  not  found.  He  was  the 
"youngest  son,"  but  may  not  have  been  the  youngest  child. 
But  he  was  not  married  till  1730,  and  probably  was  the  last  of 
the  children  as  well  as  the  last  of  the  sons. ' 

In  regard  to  the  Domine's  work  upon  the  Tappan  church 
from  1694,  the  records  show  his  baptisms,  marriages,  and 
member  receptions  all  through  the  thirty  years  without  a 
break.  Of  course  upon  this  book  and  the  one  at  Hacken- 
sack, down  to  1724,  are  to  be  found,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, all  baptisms  and  marriages  that  occurred  in  Rock- 
land County,  as  there  were  no  other  churches  in  the  county 
at  that  time.  Now  and  then  some  parties  would  cross  the 
river  to  be  married  or  to  have  their  children  baptized  in 
New  York  City.  But  the  Tappan  and  Hackensack  books 
from  1694  to  1Y24,  as  kept  by  Domine  Bertholf  or  under 
his  supervision,  are  exceedingly  valuable  as  covering  al- 
most every  Rockland  County  marriage  or  baptism  that 
occurred. 

At  the  organization  of  the  church  but  one  elder  and  one 

'  The  starting  of  these  children  upon  their  respective  lines  of  descent, 
which  cannot  fail  to  be  of  great  interest  to  many  Rockland  and  Bergen 
County  families,  will  be  given  at  the  close  of  our  account  of  Domine 
Bertholf 's  life  and  work. 


CHURCH   STATISTICS— FIRST   CHURCH   EDIFICE.  15 

deacon  were  elected.  And  for  nearly  thirty  years  the 
church  continued  to  have  but  one  elder  and  one  deacon  at 
a  time.  These  were  elected  annually  and  changed  every 
year.  The  first  elder  elected  was  Lambert  Ariaentsen 
Smith,  and  the  first  deacon  was  Cornelis  Hariug.  At  the 
beginning,  in  October,  1694,  11  members  were  received,  6 
males  and  5  females.  They  were  Lambert  Ariaentsen 
(Smith)  and  his  wife  Margrieije  Blauvelt,  Cornelis  Haring 
and  his  wife  Cathalina  Flierboom,  Johannes  Blauvelt, 
Cosyn  Haring -and  his  wife  Maria  Blauvelt,  Tunis  Van 
Houten  and  his  wife  Tryntje  Claesen,  Tennis  Talman  and 
his  wife  Brechtje  Haring.  These  represented  seven  differ- 
ent family  names.  After  this  there  was  no  further  addi- 
tion to  the  membership  till  October  23,  1695.  On  this  day, 
but  one  less  than  a  year  from  the  organization,  41  more 
were  received,  of  whom  17  were  men  and  24  women  (see 
list  of  members  for  the  two  hundred  years  at  the  end  of 
our  work). 

Thus  during  the  first  twelve  months  of  the  church's  life 
it  gathered  in  all  52  members.  Most  of  them,  no  doubt, 
were  received  by  letter,  though  the  distinction  with  these 
first  entries  is  not  made  on  the  record.  And  now  there 
were  no  further  additions  for  nearly  seven  years,  till  April 
15,  1702.  But  from  this  date  onward  to  Domine  Bertholf's 
retirement  in  1724  there  were  member  receptions  every 
year  except  1712  and  1724.  The  total  number  received 
in  the  thirty  years  was  165.  The  number  of  his  infant 
baptisms  down  to  July,  1725  (his  name,  as  the  officiant,  is 
recorded  with  the  last  one  at  this  date),  was  465. 

And  now  it  remains  to  speak  of  the  temporal  affairs 
of  the  church  during  Domine  Bertholf's  time.  As  we  have 
already  said,  it  did  not  erect  a  substantial  house  of  worship 
till  1716,  when  it  was  already  twenty-two  years  old.  No 
doubt  its  services  all  through  those  years  were  held  in  a  log 
house.  The  first  solid  church  was  built  of  native  stone, 
and  was  in  the  form  of  a  square.  The  church  minutes  are 
wholly  silent  about  its  erection.  All  record  of  it  as  a  busi- 
ness step  is  lost.  There  is  a  cut  of  it  on  the  old  church 
seal  still  in  use.     On  the  reverse  of  the  seal  is  a  very  small 


16 


SERVICES  AND   SALARY   AT   TAPPAN. 


First  church  (built  in  1716).    The  house  in 
which  Major  Andr6  was  tried. 


orange  tree,  bearing  a  very  large  orange.     We  have,  of 
course,  no  difficulty  in  understanding  the  significance  of 

this  symbol.  A  copy  of  the 
cut  of  the  church  is  here- 
with given.' 

Of  course  no  parsonage 
was  needed  in  Domine  Ber- 
tholf's  time.  He  lived  at 
Hackensack  to  the  end. 
The  Tappan  church  could 
not  have  had  much  service 
from  him.  Its  services  were 
generally  carried  on  by  Voor- 
lesers,  among  whom  w^ere 
Dirck  Storm  and  Jacob  Van 
Dalssem,  mentioned  in  the 
records.  Many  people  rode  over  to  Hackensack  to  hear 
the  Domine  there.  They  sometimes  took  children  with 
them  to  be  baptized.  In  this  way  it  came  about,  as  im- 
plied in  a  previous  statement,  that  baptisms  representing 
Tappan  families  are  now  and  then  found  on  the  Hacken- 
sack book.  The  Domine's  Sabbath  visits  to  Tappan  were 
mostly  limited  to  communion  occasions,  which,  after  the 
church  was  fairly  started,  came  round  four  times  in  a  year, 
in  January,  April,  July,  and  October.  On  these  occasions 
he  received  his  quarterly  salary  spoken  of  below. 

What  I  have  thus  given  indicates  a  great  church  work 
at  Tappan  during  the  first  thirty  years,  when  we  consider 

'  The  seal  referred  to  was  adopted  as  a  sequel  to  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion passed  February  25,  1783.  It  is  thus  described  in  the  minutes  of 
that  date : 

"  The  seal  of  the  Corporation  being  agreed  upon  and  made  is  about 
one  inch  in  diameter,  the  device  being  a  representation  of  the  Dutch 
church  in  the  town  of  Orange,  with  an  orauge  tree  in  front.  On  the 
seal  is  the  date  of  the  passing  of  the  act  for  incorporation,  thus  : 

Mth  Dy 

2  25 

1783 
The  motto  on  the  border  is  :  "  Saml  Verbryck  et  Seniores  Petunt, 
ut  crescat  et  maturescat.'' 


MARRIAGES  OF  CHILDREN — GRANDCHILDREN.  17 

the  smallness  of  the  early  population.  In  1723  it  liad 
reached  but  1,244.  During  these  years  the  Domine  had 
faithfully  kept  up  his  work  with  the  two  New  Jersey 
churches  of  which  he  was  strictly  the  pastor,  as  their 
records  abundantly  testify.  And  he  had  also  founded  and 
well  cared  for  the  several  churches  already  named  in  our 
narrative.  His  Hackensack  and  Acquackanonck  churches 
must  h?lve  shared  very  largely  in  their  pastor's  missionary 
spirit,  or  they  would  not  have  been  willing  to  spare  him  so 
often  and  so  much  as  his  missionary  work  must  have 
called  him  away.  Yet  they  may  not  have  been  wholly 
disinterested,  as  the  Domine's  support  came  partly  from 
the  Tappan  church.' 

We  end  the  account  of  Domine  Bertholf  with  a  brief 
statement  of  the  starting  of  his  eight  children  upon  their 
lines  of  descent. 

1.  Sara  Bertholf  m.  David  de  Maree  (grandson  of  the  origi- 
nal Huguenot  settler  of  the  same  name  who  came  to  America 
about  1676),  April  24,  1697,  and  had  the  following  children  : 
David,  Guiliam,  Jacobus,  Martina,  Rachel,  Maria,  Lydia,  Eliza- 
beth, Guiliam,  Sara,  and  Annetje.  While  the  sons  of  this  line 
carried  down  the  name  de  Maree  (or  Demarest),  two  of  the 
daughters  united  with  Blauvelts  of  Tappan,  one  with  Romeyn 
of  Hackensack,  and  two  others  respectively  with  Anderson  and 
"Van  Houten  of  Schraalenbergh. 

2.  Maria  Bertholf  m.  Jan  Bogert,  March  25,  1697,  and  had 
the  following  children  :  Angenietje  (Agnes),  Guiliam,  Martina, 
Johannes,  Johannes  2d,  Marretje,  Hendrick,  Sara,  Cornelius, 
Anna,  Annetje.  While  the  sons  of  this  line  carried  forward 
the  name  Bogert,  the  daughters  took  up  the  names  of  Duryee 
and  Stagg  of  Hackensack,  Terhune  of  Paramus,  and  Ackerman 
and  Haring  of  Tappan. 

3.  Elizabeth  Bertholf  m.,  first,  Jan  Albertsen  Terhune,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1699  ;  and  second,  Roelof  Jansen  Bogert,  August  23, 

'  Every  salary  payment  made  to  Domine  Bertholf  by  the  Tappan 
congregation  during  his  thirty  years  of  service  for  them  is  preserved 
upon  the  record  book.  He  was  paid  quarterly.  In  the  whole  thirty 
years  he  received  about  5,508  guilders,  or  about  183  guilders  (less  than 
$75)  a  year.  From  1714  to  1724  a  payment  was  made  of  5  guilders 
quarterly  for  his  board  during  his  official  visits  to  the  church. 
2 


18  MARRIAGES   OF  CHILDREN— GRANDCHILDREN. 

1718.  Her  children  were  :  Ter/iMwes— Hendricktje,  Martina, 
Albert,  Martina,  Sara,  Annetje,  Guiliam,  Stefanis ;  and  Bo- 
gerts— Jan,  Pieter,  Hendrick,  Guiliam,  Martyntje.  While  the 
sons  kept  up  the  names  Terhune  and  Bogert,  the  daughters 
married  into  the  famiHes  of  Banta,  Van  Boskerk,  and  Zabris- 
kie,  all  of  Hackensack. 

4.  Hendrick  Bertholf  m.  Marretje  Terhune,  March  29,  1707. 
This  was  the  Domine's  oldest  son.  He  had  five  daughters  : 
Martina  (m.  Cutwater),  Hendricktje  and  Maria  (each  married 
a  Jacobuse),  Rachel  (m.  her  own  cousin  Guiliam,  son  of  her 
father's  brother  Cryn),  Sara  (m.  Mandeville).  He  had  also 
seven  sons,  of  whom,  as  they  carried  forward  the  Bertholf 
name,  I  will  speak  more  in  detail : 

Albert  m.  Jannetje .     His  children  were:  Hendrick, 

Annetje,  Marretje,  and  Gerrit. 

Guiliam  m.  Jannetje  Jacobuse.  His  children  were:  Jan- 
netje, Jacobus,  Elizabeth,  Marlyntje,  Sara,  Sara  2d. 

Jan.     I  cannot  trace  him  with  certainty. 

Jacobus  m.  his  cousin  Elizabeth  Bertholf,  daughter  of 
his  father's  brother  Cryn.  I  have  his  entire  line  clearly 
down  to  to-day.  His  children  were:  Marretje,  Petrus, 
Annetje,  Henry,  Curinus  (known  as  Crinus),  WilHam, 
Jacobus,  Hannah. 

Abram  m.  Margrietje  Mandeville.  I  know  of  four  of  his 
children  :  Jilhs,  Hendrick,  Marretje,  Abram. 

Reinhart  m.  Jacomyntje  Berry.  I  find  but  one  child, 
Hendrick. 

Stefanis  m.  Martyntje  Mandeville.     I  know  of  no  child. 

5.  Quirinus  (Cryn)  Bertholf,  the  second  son,  m.  Annetje 
Reyerse,  August  30,  1718.  Had  three  daughters  :  Martina 
(m.  Van  Houten  of  Passaic),  Rebecca  (m.  Laroe  of  Pompton 
Plains),  Elizabeth  (m.  her  cousin  Jacobus,  son  of  her  father's 
brother  Hendrick).  He  had  also  three  sons,  of  whom,  as  they 
carried  forward  the  name  Bertholf,  I  will  speak  more  in  detail : 

Johannes  m.  Wyberig  (or  Wybrecht)  Laroe.  Children  : 
Catharina,  Curinus,  Samuel,  Trientje,  Johannes. 

Guiliam  m.  his  cousin  Rachel  Bertholf,  daughter  of  his 
father's  brother  Hendrick.  Children  :  Samuel,  Hen- 
drick, Annetje. 

Jacobus  m.   Lea   or  Lena  .     I   find  two   children: 

Guiliam  and  Abraham. 


MARRIAGES  OF  CHILDREN — GRANDCHILDREN.       19 

6.  Martha  Bertholf  m.  Albert  Bogert,  February  28,  1713. 
Her  children  were:  Jan,  Guiliam,  Isaa(%  Jacobus,  Angenietje, 
Hendrick,  Cornelius,  and  Angenietje  2d.  The  sons  all  mar- 
ried and  had  children,  and  the  only  daughter  who  lived  to  grow 
up  married  a  Banta  of  Hackensack  and  had  a  daughter,  Rachel. 

7.  Anna  Bertholf  m.,  first,  Abram  Varick,  July  12,  1718  ; 
and  second,  Peter  Post,  widower,  October  5,  173-4.  Her  chil- 
dren were  :  Varicks — Sara,  Martina,  Johannes,  Guiliam, 
Richard,  Maria,  Jacobus,  Maria ;  and  Posts — Hendrick  and 
Gerrit.  Of  the  Varick  children  the  first  two  sons  grew  up  and 
had  children  The  last  two  dx>  not  appear  again  on  any  record 
in  my  hands.  The  daughters  who  lived  to  grow  up  took  the 
names  of  Zabriskie  of  Hackensack,  and  Gilbert  of  Schraalen- 
bergh.  The  mother  had  her  last  two  Varick  children  baptized 
a  considerable  time  after  she  had  taken  her  second  husband. 

8.  Jacobus  Bertholf  (how  identified  see  above)  m.  Elizabeth 
Van  Imburg,  at  Hackensack,  March  1,  1729.  One  child  only 
has  come  to  me  through  records  in  my  hands,  viz.  : 

Guiliam,    baptized  at   Schraalenbergh,  April   25,    1730. 

He  m.  Osseltje  (Ursuline) ,  and  had  the  follo\ving 

children  :  Elizabeth,  Hendrick,  Benjamin,  Guiliam, 
and  Casparus,  all  baptized  at  Schraalenbergh  between 
1757  and  177G. 

In  summing  up  my  sketch  of  Domine  Bertholf  s  family 
I  have  only  to  say  that  through  the  eight  children  thus 
given,  and  through  seventy  grandchildren  I  have  found 
and  catalogued,  I  find  that  there  are  very  few  old  families 
of  upper  Bergen  County  and  lower  Rockland  County  that 
have  not  become  interlocked  with  the  Bertholf  name.  I 
have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  collect  from  the  records  more 
than  200  of  the  great-grandchildren  with  their  dates  and 
other  statistics.  They  are,  however,  far  more  numerous 
than  this.  Two  descendants  of  the  name  of  Bertholf  are 
at  this  very  day  in  the  ministry  of  our  Reformed  Church  in 
America — the  Rev.  James  Henry  Bertholf,  of  Youkers, 
N.  Y.,  who  has  his  connection  clear  and  full  from  the 
Domine's  son  Hendrick  through  the  latter's  son  Jacobus  ; 
and  the  Rev.  Benjamin  A.  Bartholf,  of  Mt.  Ross,  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y,,  who  has  his  line  in  part,  and  will  be  able 
to  make  it  complete  with  a  little  effort.     I  shall  be  very 


20  SUMMING   UP   OF   BERTHOLF   PERIOD. 

much  gratified  if  through  my  sketch  I  have  succeeded  in 
interesting  any  descendant  of  the  good  old  Domine  in  his 
own  lineage.  It  is  certainly  no  small  honor  to  be  de- 
scended from  an  ancestor  who  has  left  behind  a  record  like 
his  of  solid  Christian  character  and  of  intelligent  and  well- 
directed  activity  in  the  service  of  Christ. 


HEY.  FREDERIC  MUZELIUS. 
(First  Real  Pastor.) 

NOVEMBER,  17,  1727-NOVEMBER,  1749. 

This  was  the  name  of  the  successor  of  Domine  Bertholf 
in  the  care  of  the  Tappan  church.  He  was  its  first  form- 
ally installed  and  real  pastor.  The  spelling  of  his  name  as 
above  is  correct.  But  it  must  be  pronounced  as  if  written 
Mootzaylius.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  January  5,  1704. 
But  of  his  precise  birthplace,  his  general  education  and 
special  preparation  for  the  ministry,  we  have  no  particu- 
lars. '  His  remains  lie  in  the  burial  ground  at  Tappan,  just 
in  the  rear  of  the  church.  A  stone  marks  the  spot,  on 
which  are  the  words  (I  give  the  exact  spelUng  and  point- 
ing) : 

"Here  Lies  Inter'd  the  Body  of  Rev.  Frederic  Muzehus, 
who  Departed  This  Life  the  Seventh  of  April,  One  Thousand 
Seven  Hundred  Eighty  Two  Born  in  Germany  Anno  Domini, 
One  Thousand  1704,  Aged  78  Years,  Three  months,  Two 
Days  " 

His  pastorate  at  Tappan  began,  as  above  stated,  in  1727. 
Probably  Domine  Bertholf,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  was  liv- 
ing in  1726,  had  now  passed  away.  The  new  pastor  came 
to  his  charge  as  a  single  man.  He  did  not  marry  till  No- 
vember 20,  1731.  The  bans  of  his  marriage  had  been 
published  at  Acquackanonck  on  the  13th  of  that  month. 
The  record  of  the  marriage  is  on  the  book  of  that  church 
at  the  date  named.     It  is  as  follows  : 

'' Frederic  Muzelius,  y.  m.  [young  man,  2. e.,  never  married 
before],  member  from  Tappan." 

"  Marj'  Ludlouw,  y.  d.  [,young  daughter],  from  New  York." 

'  I  have  used  effort  to  trace  him,  but  have  been  unsuccessful.  It  is 
probable  that  his  name  had  been  changed,  as  Muzelius  as  a  name 
seems  to  be  unknown  in  this  form  in  Germany. 


32  LUDLOW   FAMILY — THE   MUZELIUS   CALL. 

I  have  not  the  parentage  of  Mrs.  MuzeUus,  But  the 
Ludlow  family  in  America  was  one  of  distinction,  and 
with  this  history  the  following  from  page  8,  vol.  xiii.  of  the 
"  New  York  Gen.  and  Biog.  Record  "  is  of  special  interest : 

*'  On  October  15,  1731  (Charles  Clinton)  as  Deputy  Surveyor, 
reported  the  survey  of  six  tracts  in  the  Highlands,  laid  out  for 
Gabriel  and  William  Ludlow,  who  were  claimed  to  be  sons  or 
near  relatives  of  the  Republican  General,  Edmund  Ludlow,  the 
active  chief  in  Ireland  in  1651-1653.  The  first  Gabriel,  of  New 
York,  merchant,  came  to  the  city  in  1 694,  and  was  Clerk  of  the 
Assemblj'-  in  1699.  Gabriel,  perhaps  his  son,  was  Clerk  of 
Orange  County  in  1735,  and  member  of  the  Colonial  Assembly 
from  that  county  1739  to  1745." 

With  this  statement  we  connect  the  following  facts  :' 
About  this  time  several  Ludlows  appeared  at  Tappan. 
Gabriel  Ludlow  united  with  the  church  April  16,  1731 ;  his 
wife,  Frances  Duncan,  October  12,  1734  ;  Henry  Ludlow 
and  his  wife,  Maria  Corbett,  March  23,  1733  ;  and  William 
Ludlow,  October  9,  1736.  The  record  has  also  a  John  Lud- 
low and  his  wife,  Susanna  Bradbury.  All  these  parties 
have  children  baptized.  The  entries  of  their  names  with 
the  baptisms  as  witnesses  show  that  they  were  closely  re- 
lated, and  the  dates  make  it  jDrobable  that  the  men  were 
brothers  of  Mrs.  Muzelius.  She  herself  united  with  the 
Tappan  church  April  9,  1732. 

Domine  and  Mrs.  Muzelius  have  no  child  upon  the  rec- 
ords, and  the  local  tradition  of  my  boyhood  was  that  they 
had  none.  How  long  Mrs.  Muzelius  lived  I  do  not  know. 
If  she  was  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  in  the  Tap- 
pan  churchyard,  either  her  grave  was  not  marked  with  a 
stone,  or  the  stone,  if  there  was  one,  long  ago  disappeared. 

In  the  record  book  of  a  schismatic  congregation,  which 
will  be  spoken  of  below,  is  found  a  summary  of  the  terms 
of  Domine  Muzelius'  original  call.  It  fixes  the  precise  date 
at  which  he  was  called,  and  adds  other  interesting  infor- 

'  The  name  Ludlow  has  been  distinguished  during  the  present  cen- 
tury in  the  ministr-y  of  tlie  Reformed  Church  in  America  (see  Cor- 
win's  Manual). 


SOURCES   OF  INFORMATION.  23 

mation.     No  doubt  the   Domine  himself  wrote  it  in  the 
book.     It  is  in  the  Dutch  language,  as  follows : 

"  Beroeping  voor  Do.  Fridericus  Muzelius  tot  ordinare  Her- 
der en  Leeraer  in  Cliristiis  gemeente  te  Tappan,  voor  70  pond 
Jaerlicks,  vrij  huijs  en  brandthout,  en  andere  dingen  in't  be- 
roep  selfs  gespecificeert.     iSTovember  17,  1727." 

*  Translation. 

Call  for  Domine  Frederic  Muzelius  as  regular  pastor  and 
teacher  in  Christ's  church  at  Tappan  for  70  pounds  yearly,  free 
house  and  firewood,  and  other'lhings  specified  in  the  call  itself. 
November  17,  1727. 

All  we  can  gather  in  reference  to  Domine  Muzelius'  pas- 
toral period  from  1727  to  1749,  and  his  subsequent  life  at 
Tappan  till  his  death  on  the  7th  of  April,  17S2  (I  mean  all 
outside  of  the  local  traditions  which  still  linger),  we  get, 
first,  from  vol.  i.  of  Minutes  of  the  General  Synod  E.  P. 
D.  C. ;  secondly,  from  the  Amsterdam  Correspondence  of 
the  period,  now  in  the  Sage  Library  at  New  Brunswick  ; 
and,  thirdly,  from  the  records  of  a  schismatic  congrega- 
tion, recovered  in  1873  from  long  obscurity,  and  since  that 
time  in  the  keeping  of  the  Tappan  Consistory,' 

'  The  volume  of  the  Minutes  of  Synod  referred  to  may  be  procui*ed 
at  the  salesroom  of  the  Board  of  Publication  R.  C  A.  Pages  1-132 
contain  all  that  has  come  down  to  us  of  the  proceeding's  of  the  Coetus 
and  those  of  the  Conferentie  (these  terms  will  be  explained  as  our 
narrative  proceeds). 

For  the  history  of  the  Amsterdam  Correspondence,  see  Minutes  of 
General  Synod,  vol.  vi.,  pp.  143,  167,  271-275,  425,  519-522;  vol.  xi., 
p.  112;  and  vol.  xii.,  p.  356. 

In  December,  1873,  Rev,  Geo,  M.  S.  Blauvelt  put  into  my  hands  an 
old  record  of  marriages  and  baptisms  which  he  had  I'eceived  from  Mr, 
James  Smith  Haring,  of  Blauveltville  (that  of  the  baptisms,  164  in 
number,  I  published  in  1884  in  the  Appendix  to  Beei*s  &  Co.'s  "History 
of  Rockland  County").  In  conunitting  this  valuable  treasure  to  Rev, 
Mr.  Blauvelt,  Mr.  Haring  accompanied  it  with  the  following  statement 
in  writing: 

"  This  book  of  records  of  the  R.  D.  C.  of  Tappan  was  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  chorister  and  clerk  of  the  congregation,  as  appears  by  the 


24  SOURCES   OF   INFORMATION. 

recoi'ds,  from  February  25,  1767,  until  March  31,  1777,  which  appears  to 
be  the  last  entry  made.  About  that  time  he  deserted  his  country  and 
went  over  to  the  British  cause.  At  the  close  of  the  war  his  property 
was  confiscated  and  his  effects  were  purchased  by  my  crrandfather,  and 
among  other  things  this  book  was  included. 

"  There  is,  in  the  back  part  of  the  book,  a  record  of  the  call  of  Rev. 
Frederic  Muzelius,  dated  as  far  back  as  November  17,  1727." 

(Signed)  Jas.  S.  Haring. 

Notes  by  myself. — This  book,  instead  of  coming  down  to  March 
31,  1777,  really  comes  down  to  June  14,  1778  (see  its  baptisms). 

Mr.  Haring  calls  the  book  "  this  book  of  records  of  the  R.  D.  C.  of 
Tappan."  It  is,  however,  a  record  wholly  aside  from  that  of  the  regu- 
lar church.  All  its  marriages  and  baptisms  were  performed  (as  state- 
ments show  in  the  book  itself)  by  Domines  Blaeuw,  Rubel,  Rysdyk, 
Kuypers,  Boelen,  and  Muzelius,  all  of  whom  were  bitterly  hostile  to 
Domine  Verbryck,  the  pastor,  through  these  years,  of  the  regular 
church.  The  book  is  really  the  record  book  of  the  doings  of  a  schis- 
matic party,  as  our  coming  nari'ative  of  Domine  Muzelius'  movements 
will  abundantly  show. 


A  PERIOD  OF  SEVERE  CONFLICT. 

(1727-1771.) 

During  its  first  century  in  America  the  Reformed  Church, 
organically  connected  as  it  was  with  the  ancestral  church 
beyond  the  ocean  through  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  and 
the  Synod  of  North  Holland,  had  been  tolerably  contented 
and  never  seriously  thought  of  independence.  All  its  min- 
isters had  been  licensed  and  ordained  in  Holland.  Even 
men  born  here  and  desiring  licensure  and  ordination  had 
been  obliged  to  cross  the  ocean  for  them.  By  1727  the 
inconvenience  attending  this  subjection  to  the  Holland 
Church  was  becoming  very  great.  Progressive  minds  were 
thinking  of  and  planning  for  an  independent  American 
organization.  In  1737  a  considerable  number  of  ministers 
framed  a  set  of  "Fundamental  Articles"  (a  virtual  constitu- 

'  So  far  as  the  church  books  reveal,  and  so  far  as  I  have  ever  heard, 
the  only  important  church  property  matter  that  came  up  during 
Domiue  Muzelius'  ministry,  besides  what  will  appear  in  the  narrative 
upon  which  we  are  now  entering,  was  the  acquisition  of  the  church 
glebe  and  the  bixilding  of  the  parsonage. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1729,  about  two  years  after  his  settlement, 
the  church  received  from  iive  men,  then  the  only  survivors  of  the  six- 
teen original  patentees  of  the  "Tappan  patent,"  a  gift  of  97  acres  of 
land — one  lot  of  55  acres,  north  and  west  of  the  church,  known  in  its 
later  history  as  the  parsonage  glebe,  and  another  lot  of  42  acres  of 
woodland  south  of  the  village,  called  in  church  minutes  "unimproved 
land  in  New  Jersey,"  but  popularly  known  as  "the  church  woods." 
It  is  worth  while  to  insert  here  so  much  of  the  deed  conveying  this 
property  as  will  describe  the  property  itself,  and  also  show  the  loving 
spirit  with  which  it  was  given.  The  original  paper,  much  decayed,  is 
still  in  possession  of  the  Consistory.  There  is  also  a  record  of  it  at  New 
City,  on  p.  210,  Orange  County  Deeds,  No.  2.  I  quote  its  most  interest- 
ing part,  spelling  the  names  of  the  donors  as  we  know  them  best: 

"  To  all  Christian  People  unto  whom  these  presents  shall  come  : 
"  Whereas,  Daniel    de   Clerk,  Peter   Haring,    Johannes   Blauvelt, 


26  HISTORIC   GIFT   TO   THE   TAPPAN   CHURCH. 

tion)  for  an  independent  body  to  be  known  as  a  "  Coetus  " 
— an  American  Assembly — and  sent  it  to  the  Classis  of  Am- 
sterdam for  its  approval.  The  Classis  seemed  favorably 
disposed  to  the  plan,  and  so  the  Articles  were  adopted  and 

Lambert  Smith,  Cosyn  Haring,  all  of  Tapjjau,  in  the  County  of 
Orange,  and  in  the  Province  of  New  York,  patentees,  have  thought  fit 
and  convenient  to  release  unto  the  Dutch  Church  of  Tappan  the  lands 
hereinafter  mentioned:  Now  know  ye  that  we  the  said  [the  names  re- 
peated], for  the  good  will  and  affection  we  bear  unto  the  said  Dutch 
Church,  do  by  these  presents  fully,  freely,  clearly,  and  absolutely  give, 
grant,  bargain,  remise,  release,  quitclaim,  and  confirm  unto  Gerret 
Blauvelt  as  Churchmaster,  Rynier  Ryseryck,  Cornelius  Eckerson, 
Resolvert  Nagel,  and  Joseph  Blauvelt  as  Elders,  and  Tunis  Cuyper, 
Douwe  Talman,  and  John  Cornelius  Haring  as  Deacons  of  said 
church,  two  certain  pieces  of  land  lying  at  Tappan  aforesaid  and  is 
bounded  as  followeth,  viz.,  the  one  lot  is  bounded  and  begins  at  the 
N.W.  corner  of  that  lot  sold  to  Abraham  Haring  to  pay  charges,  by 
the  road  by  a  stake,  then  running  S.E.  along  the  line  34  chains  to  the 
meadows  to  a  stake,  then  N.N.E.  along  the  meadows  17  chains  to  a 
tree  marked,  then  N.  51i  degrees  W.  36  chains  and  50  links  to  a  stake 
standing  by  the  roadside,  then  southerly  along  the  roadside  7  chains 
and  64  links  to  the  place  where  it  began,  containing  42  acres;  also 
another  lot,  being  the  church  lot,  and  beginning  by  a  beach  tree  stand- 
ing a  little  to  the  north  of  Gysbert  Bogart's  path,  from  thence  running 
W.  27  chains  to  the  line  of  Johannes  Meyer,  to  a  tree  there  marked, 
then  S.  9  degrees  W.  1  chain  and  10  links  to  a  stake,  then  E.  1  degree 
S.  17  chains  to  an  oak  mai'ked,  then  S.  9  degrees  30  chains  to  the  Old 
Tappan  Road  to  a  stake,  then  E.  by  N.  18  chains  to  the  Sparkill,  then 
northerly  along  the  Sparkill  and  the  land  of  Gysbert  Bogart  to  the 
place  where  it  first  began,  containing  55  acres,  etc.,  etc,"  (What  re- 
mains is  not  important.) 

Of  the  two  lots  named  in  this  deed,  the  first  was  sold  before  1790. 
How  the  second  came  down  to  its  present  contracted  dimensions  will 
appear  as  our  history  runs  along. 

Of  the  five  donors,  Daniel  de  Cleric  is  still  represented  in  the  church 
by  Maria  de  Clerk,  Mrs.  John  Cutwater,  whose  husband  was  from 
Domine  Bertholf  through  Martina,  a  daughter  of  his  son  Hendi-ick. 
From  Johannes  Blauvelt  comes  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt,  the 
church's  fifth  pastor.  Lambert  Smith  was  the  ancestor,  probably  the 
grandfather,  of  Gerrit  Smith,  the  noted  American  philanthropist. 
Cosyn  Haring's  descendants  are  well  known  in  the  church  and  region 
to-day.  Cosyn  was  a  son  of  Jan  Pietersen  Haring  and  Grietje  Cos3^ns, 
b.  in  New  York  City,  March  31,  1669,  and  a  grandson  of  Pieter  Haring 
of  Holland,     From   him,    through   his   son   Jan   Cosynsen,   liis  son 


PERIOD   OF   CONFLICT.  27 

signed  on  the  2'rth  of  April,  1738,  by  9  ministers  and  7  eld- 
ers of  churches.  Through  delay  of  the  Classis,  however, 
in  taking  the  necessary  steps,  the  first  formal  Coetus  was 
not  held  till  September  8,  1747,  nine  years  later.  But  by 
this  time  some  ministers  who  had  at  first  encouraged  the 
idea  of  the  Coetus  had  become  disaffected  and  opposed  it. 
In  1755  these  organized  another  body,  calling  it  "The  Con- 
ferenlbie,"  for  inaintaining  connection  with  the  Classis  of 
Amsterdam.  Some  of  the  minutes  of  these  bodies  having 
been  lost,  it  is  not  known  just  how  long  they  continued  in 
being.  There  have  come  derwn  to  us  from  the  Coetus  the 
minutes  of  eight  annual  and  four  special  sessions,  begin- 
ning with  one  of  September  8,  1747,  and  ending  with  one 
of  September  11,  1754  ;  and  from  the  Conferentie,  first, 
certain  letters  it  sent  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  from 
September  30,  1755,  to  February  25,  1762,  inclusive,  and, 
secondly,  the  minutes  of  its  "Proceedings"  at  four  meet- 
ings held  June  20,  1764,  October  8,  1765,  May  8,  1767,  and 
October  6,  1767.  But  we  are  sure  that  both  bodies  contin- 
ued in  being  till  1771.  The  loss  of  a  large  portion  of  their 
minutes  has  left  many  matters  of  the  period  to  the  mercy 
of  mere  traditions  which  are  now  fading.  The  great  strug- 
gle between  the  parties  began  about  the  time  of  Domine 
Muzelius'  call  to  Tappan,  took  formal  shape  in  1737,  and 
continued  till  1771,  when  they  were  definitely  settled. 
Long  before  the  settlement,  however,  efforts  were  made 
for  it  by  the  lovers  of  peace.  A  joint  meeting  of  the  Coe- 
tus and  the  Conferentie  was  held  in  New  York  on  the  19th 
of  June,  1764,  and  several  efforts  were  made  through  cor- 

Fredericus,  his  son  Johannes  F.,  and  his  sou  Tunis,  have  come  the 
living  brothers  Abraham  B.  and  John  T.  Haring,  both  elders,  the  latter 
now  in  office,  in  the  church.  Peter  Haring,  the  donor  mentioned 
second  in  the  deed,  may  also  be  represented  by  descendants  in  the 
church  or  vicinity,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  his  line. 

There  is  not  a  scrap  left  to  tell  us  when  the  parsonage  was  built. 
But  Domine  Verbryck  is  known  to  have  occupied  it  through  the 
whole  of  his  period,  beginning  in  1750.  All  his  children  were  born  in 
it.  I  am  confident  that  it  was  built  at  once  after  the  gift  of  the  glebe 
in  1729.  for  the  use  of  Domine  Muzelius  in  agreement  with  the  terms  of 
his  call  (see  above) . 


28  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS. 

respondence  between  the  bodies  and  between  individual 
ministers,  but  without  marked  effect.  The  end  was  at  last 
reached  through  the  rising  upon  the  scene  of  a  man  of 
wonderful  adaptation  to  the  time,  clearly  raised  up  of  God 
to  bring  into  the  church's  life  a  new  era  of  reconciliation 
and  peace.  The  life  of  Rev.  John  H.  Livingston,  known 
in  our  annals  as  the  ' '  Father  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 
America,"  may  be  procured  and  read  by  any  one  who 
wishes  the  details  of  the  course  taken  that  resulted  in  the 
adjustment  of  1771. 

I  had  one  special  advantage  for  learning  about  Domine 
Muzelius.  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  intimately  acquainted 
with  Domine  Nicholas  Lansing  (who  died  September  26, 
1835)  during  the  last  six  years  of  his  life.  Domine  Lansing 
began  his  ministry  at  Tappan  in  1784,  only  six  years  after 
the  schismatic  congregation  broke  up,  only  two  years  after 
Domine  Muzelius  died,  and  only  one  year  after  the  Revo- 
lution ended.  He  knew  thoroughly  all  the  particulars  of 
those  times.  And  from  his  lips,  and  from  the  lips  of 
several  old  people  who  had  been  personally  familiar  with 
Domine  Muzelius  and  close  daily  observers  of  his  later  life 
and  course,  I  heard  fully  in  my  boyhood  the  details  of  the 
Muzelius  period.  What  I  heard  was  always  very  unfavor- 
able to  the  spirit  of  Domine  Muzelius  in  connection  with 
his  times.  Of  course  his  period  was  fearfully  turbulent, 
both  ecclesiastically  and  politically.  Almost  every  one  was 
a  partisan,  and  party  spirit  was  seldom  ever  more  bitter. 
Many  men,  who  are  known  to  have  been  of  a  high  order 
for  piety  and  good  judgment,  were  shamefully  defamed 
by  opponents.  In  my  narrative  I  am  only  called  to  give 
history  as  I  find  it.  I  shall  give,  first,  what  has  been  pre- 
served in  the  Coetus  and  the  Conferentie  papers;  secondly, 
what  I  have  copied  from  the  Amsterdam  Correspondence; 
and  thirdly,  what  is  plainly  spread  out  on  the  preserved 
record  hook  of  the  schismatic  congregation  itself. 

I.  From  Coetus  and  Conferentie  Papers. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Coetus  was  held  in  September, 
1747.     Domine  Muzelius,  nine  years  earlier,  had  at  least 


COETUS  PAPERS.  29 

not  opposed  the  formation  of  a  Coetus.  By  1738,  however, 
he  had  become  a  strong  opponent  of  it.  To  its  first  meet- 
ing he  sent  the  following  letter: 

"That  the  Rev.  Classis  [of  Amsterdam]  in  1739  saw  no  diffi- 
culty in  forming  a  Coetus  in  these  provinces,  and  observed  to 
you  that  it  might  be  a  thing  altogether  necessary  for  the  good 
of  God's  church  here,  I  cannot  yet  entirely  understand,  and 
yet  I  suspend  my  judgment  thereof  until  I  comprehend  it  better. 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  it  will  be  more  for  an  injury  and  con- 
fusion than  for  the  gain,  peac^  and  unity  of  our  Low  Dutch 
Church  in  case  the  thing  goes  on.  Time  and  experience  will 
show,  and  perhaps  there  will  be  total  defection  from  our  dear 
Netherland  Church  (which  may  God  forbid!)  and  then  'Vale, 
patria,'  etc.  Concerning  this  matter  none  of  our  Consistory 
(at  Tappan)  have  yet  spoken,  and  a  week  or  more  must  elapse 
before  they  can  do  it,  being  compelled  to  go  to  the  Manor  of 
Cortland  to  render  service.  But  for  my  part  I  write  to  you  in 
haste,  not  the  Consistory  (pardon  the  word),  whom  I  otherwise 
respect  and  hold  at  their  full  worth,  that  in  ecclesiastical  matters 
I  have  subjected  m3^self  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  and  in 
political  matters  to  the  Protestant  Crown  of  Great  Britain  (*A 
word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient')." 

This  first  letter  already  foreshadowed  what  all  our  com- 
ing history  shows — that  the  Consistory  and  people  of  the 
Tappan  church  were  wholly  at  variance  with  their  pastor 
upon  the  great  question  of  the  time.  The  body  of  the  con- 
gregation (a  few  only  were  with  Muzelius)  was  with  the  up- 
rising for  xA.mericanization.  The  next  papers  are  from  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Third  Coetus,  held  in  September,  1748: 

'' Tappan. — The  elders  and  deacons  [z.e.,  the  church]  of 
Tappan  desired  to  be  recognized  as  a  member  of  the  Coetus. 
The  elders  had  handed  the  letter  of  the  Classis  [i.e.,  of  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam  approving  the  Coetus]  to  Muzelius  him- 
self, and  requested  him  to  promise  that  if  there  was  anything 
in  it  relating  to  the  congregation  he  would  make  it  known  to 
them.     He  gave  the  promise,  but  had  not  yet  fulfilled  it." 

"  Tappan. — The  matter  of  Tappan  was  taken  up,  and  the 
Elder  Cornelius  Cooper  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  Coetus, 
and  Abraham  Haring,  a  former  elder,  as  his  assistant," 


30  REV.    FREDERICK   MUZELIUS. 

"  Tappan. — The  case  of  Tappan  was  referred  to  the  Revs. 
Messrs.  Curtenius,  Haeghoort,  Goetschius,  and  Van  der  Linde, 
as  a  committee  to  go  thither  in  order  to  do  what  is  in  their 
power  for  the  welfare  of  the  congregation;  each  with  an  elder, 
if  they  could  persuade  them  to  go." 

At  the  close  of  this  session  (1748)  a  letter  was  prepared 
to  be  forwarded  from  this  body  to  the  Classis  of  Amster- 
dam, in  w^hich  occur  the  following  passages: 

"We  should  now  inform  you  of  the  mournful  state  of  the 
church  of  Tappan,  by  reason  of  the  misbehavior  of  Domine 
Muzelius,  etc." 

"While  we  understand  that  the  committee  of  the  Classis 
have  executed  their  business  at  Tappan,  the  Rev.  Classis  will 
receive  the  intelligence  thereof  from  the  committee  itself. " 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Fourth  Coetus,  held  September, 
1749,  have  the  following  passages: 

'  •  The  committee  on  the  matter  of  Tappan  having  reported 
that  they  had  been  recognized  by  Domine  Muzelius,  not  as  a 
committee  of  the  Coetus,  but  as  neighboring  ministers  accord- 
ing to  the  church  order,  the  president  proposed  the  following 
inquiry :  Whether  it  should  not  be  provided  for  the  future  that 
all  the  ministers  belonging  to  this  Coetus,  when  they  act  as 
Consulenten  (Advisers)  for  neighboring  places,  should  be  re- 
quired to  make  report  thereof  to  the  Coetus  before  writing  to 
the  Rev.  Classis,  in  order  that  the  Coetus  itself  may  inform  the 
Rev.  Classis  and  seek  their  advice,"  etc.,  etc. 

"  Nothing  has  been  heard  from  Muzelius,  but  the  report  runs 
that  he  will  come  before  us  as  little  as  Arondeus  did "  ( Aron- 
deus  was  another  minister  who  was  giving  trouble). 

The  following  passages  are  from  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Fifth  Coetus,  held  November,  1749: 

"Domine  Muzelius  being  called  for,  appeared  according  to 
the  classical  letter,  and  promised  to  submit  to  the  decision 
which  the  Coetus  should  make  concerning  him." 

"  Tappan. — The  Consistory  of  Tappan  being  called  in,  made 
a  representation  touching  the  deportment  of  Domine  Muzelius 


COETUS  PAPERS.  31 

after  his  censure,  and  their  proceedings  concerning  him  and  his 
party. " 

The  action  upon  this  is  thus  stated: 

"Sentence  of  Muzelius. — It  was  concluded  that  he  should 
continue  under  his  censure,  under  the  direction  of  the  congre- 
gatioi^.     This  was  made  known  to  him  and  he  submitted  to  it.*' 

Finally,  at  this  session,  the  question  was  taken  up  what 
should  be  done  with  Muzelius  when  his  three  months  of 
censure  had  expired.     The  following  action  w^as  taken: 

"Resolved,  That  the  three  nearest  ministers  at  Hackensack 
and  Passaic,  with  their  elders,  shall  repair  thither,  to  whom 
the  Consistory  of  Tappan  shall  state  how  Domine  Muzelius  has 
conducted  himself  during  the  three  months.  If  he  has  con- 
ducted properly,  Domine  Curtenius  shall  preach  in  the  morning, 
reminding  "Domine  Muzelius  of  his  misdeeds  ;  and  in  the  after- 
noon Domine  Muzelius  shall  preach  his  penitential  sermon 
{Boedpredikatie).  Thereupon  the  three  ministers  shall,  in  the 
name  of  the  Coetus,  declare  him  Emeritus.  To  this  conclusion 
the  Coetus  is  constrained  by  the  weakness  of  his  eyesight,  and 
the  other  circumstances  which  have  come  before  us." 

At  the  close  of  this  session  (IT-iO)  a  letter  was  prepared 
to  be  sent  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam.  It  was  signed  and 
forwarded  by  Rev.  G.  Dubois,  Clerk  Extraordinary,  and 
bore  date  New  York,  May  7,  1750,  In  it  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing passage  : 

"  At  Tappan  affairs  are  more  prosperous.  Domine  Muzelius 
has  promised  me  that  he  would  no  longer  resist  the  Consistory, 
since  I  convinced  him  that  such  a  course  would  finally  result 
to  his  own  injury.  He  is  declared  Emeritus  on  account  of  the 
weakness  of  his  eyesight,  and  the  congregation  have  hired  for 
him  a  suitable  house,  into  which  I  have  urged  him  to  enter,  his 
congregation  undertaking  to  give  him  some  portion  of  his  sup- 
port. Meanwhile  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  candidate 
Verbryck  will  be  called  there. "  ' 

'  The  house  hired  by  the  people  for  their  retired  minister  I  well  re- 
member. It  stood  iipon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
William  Devoe.     No  doubt  the  Domine  occupied  it  till  his  death. 


32  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS. 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Sixth  Coetus,  held  in  Septem- 
ber, 1750,  the  Elder  John  Haring  being  the  representative 
from  Tappan,  we  have  the  following  passages  : 

''  Tappan. — The  proceedings  of  the  committee  on  the  matters 
of  Tappan,  in  reference  to  declaring  Domine  Muzelius  Emeri- 
tus, were  read.  The  Assembly  approved  the  same,  and  thanked 
the  brethren  for  their  faithful  conduct." 

"  Call  of  Ver^hryck. — The  call  of  Domine  Verbryck  to  be- 
come minister  of  the  congregations  of  Tappan  and  New  Hemp- 
stead [now  Clarkstown]  was  presented.  No  fault  was  found 
with  it." 

Let  us  not  fail  to  remember  that  just  here  Domine  Muze- 
lius' pastorate  ends  and  Domine  Verbryck's  begins.  We 
must  not  anticipate  in  our  story,  but  it  is  important  to  feel, 
as  we  read  on,  that  what  will  now  follow  in  regard  to 
Domine  Muzelius  will  fall  within  his  years  of  retirement. 
We  continue  to  cite  from  the  minutes  of  the  Sixth  Coetus  : 

"  Difficulties  at  Tappan. — Persons  at  Tappan  handed  in 
complaints,  which  were  read,  and  the  following  conclusions 
were  reached  : 

''  (1)  The  Consistory  must  render  an  exact  statement  of  the 
behavior  of  Domine  Muzelius  ;  and  when  Domine  Verbryck  is 
ordained,  if  the  Consistory  have  any  grievances  to  bring  for- 
ward, it  shall  be  done  to  the  ministers  then  assembled. 

"  (2)  Domine  Muzelius  must,  by  the  first  opportunity,  fully 
leave  the  parsonage  and  go  into  the  house  hired  for  him,  and 
must  give  up  to  the  Consistory  the  land,  the  church  book,  and 
all  that  belongs  to  the  congregation. 

"  (3)  The  congregation,  through  the  Consistory,  must  render 
him  a  prompt  and  suitable  support. 

"  The  foregoing,  Domine  Muzelius  being  present,  was  as- 
sented to  by  both  parties  in  the  presence  of  the  Consistory,  and 
they  openly  promised  to  conform  to  it." 

In  the  letter  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  formulated  at 
the  close  of  this  session,  and  "sent  in  the  name  of  all," 
September  14,  1750,  we  have  this  statement  : 

''Provision  is  made  for  the  Emeritus,  and  so,  in  a  word,  the 
whole  matter  is  finished  with  extreme  satisfaction,  and,  as  we 
hope,  to  the  desired  advantage  of  the  church." 


COETUS   PAPERS.  33 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Seventh  Coetus,  held  in  1751, 
John  Haring  being  the  elder  from  Tappan,  there  is  but 
one  passage  on  this  subject.     It  is  as  follows  : 

"  Complaint  of  Muzelius. — After  the  meeting  was  opened 
with  prayer,  a  letter  was  read  from  the  Emeritus  Muzelius  of 
Tappan,  complaining  of  the  lack  of  an  adequate  support.  The 
elder  ffom  Tappan,  being  asked  about  the  case,  answered  that 
Muzelius  did  not  come  to  church,  although  he  had  been  en- 
joined to  do  so,  and  that  when  spoken  to  he  replied  that  he 
would  never  come,  etc.,  and  that  he  treats  even  the  new  minis- 
ter and  some  of  his  followers  very  improperly.  Muzelius  him- 
self acknowledged  in  a  letter  to  Domine  Dubois  that  for  impor- 
tant reasons  he  did  not  go  to  church.  The  conclusion  of  the 
Coetus  was,  to  write  to  Muzelius  and  the  Consistory,  directing 
them  to  conduct  themselves  properly  and  fairly  to  each  other 
in  all  things.'' 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Eighth  Coetus,  held  in  Octo- 
ber, 1T51,  no  allusion  to  Tappan  occurs. 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Ninth  Coetus,  a  special  session 
convened  in  April,  1752,  we  find  the  following  : 

"  Tappan. — Abraham  Haring  and  John  Nagel,  a  committee 
from  Tappan,  presented  a  paper  containing  various  complaints 
against  Domine  Muzelius,  which  they  enforced  by  oral  state- 
ments. Whereupon  it  was  concluded  to  write  to  Domine 
Muzelius,  warning  him  against  exciting  trouble  by  preaching 
in  private  houses,  and  exhorting  him  to  avoid  scandal  by  re- 
fraining from  his  unchristian  behavior.  Otherwise  the  Coetus 
will  be  compelled  to  act  against  him  ecclesiastically,  and  the 
Consistory  of  Tappan  m.s.j  call  in  the  aid  of  two  or  three  of  the 
neighboring  ministers,  with  their  elders,  to  proceed  further 
against  him,  even  to  the  infliction  of  censure,  and  report  to  the 
next  Coetus,  which  may  issue  in  his  total  removal." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Tenth  Coetus,  held  in  Septem- 
ber, 1752,  occur  the  following  passages  : 

"  Tappan.— Hhe  president  read  a  paper,  laid  upon  the  table 

by  an  elder  from  Tappan,  containing  a  statement  concerning 

Domine  Muzelius.     Whereupon  the  Assembly  saw  fit  to  cite 

Domine  Muzelius,  who  was  in  the  city,  to  appear  at  once  before 

3 


34  REV.    FREDERIC  MUZELIUS. 

them.     Cornelius  Smith  and  David  Van   Orden,  elders,  con- 
veyed this  summons,  but  reported  that  he  could  not  appear." 

"  Muzelius. — The  Assembly  being  opened  with  an  appropri- 
ate prayer,  and  the  minutes  read,  the  case  of  Muzelius  was 
taken  up,  and  after  deliberation  it  was  determined  to  abide  by 
the  last  resolution  of  the  Coetus,  which  had  not  yet  been  car- 
ried into  effect,  leaving  it  to  the  neighboring  ministers  to  do  in 
the  case  what  would  best  serve  for  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the 
congregation,  and  to  prepare  the  way,  by  providing  a  reason- 
able salary  for  Domine  Muzelius,  for  removing  him  from  the 
congregation." 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Eleventh  Coetus,  held  in  Septem- 
ber, 1753,  have  the  following  references  : 

"  A  report  was  made  by  the  committee  in  the  case  of  Do- 
mine Muzelius  " 

"A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  the  com- 
mittee in  the  case  of  Tappan  was  read." 

"The  report  of  this  committee  and  the  classical  letter  to 
them  were,  on  motion,  taken  ad  referendum  [i.e.,  made  an 
order  for  consideration] . 

"Domine  Muzelius  and  Tappan. — This  case  coming  up, 
at  the  request  of  the  president  [Domine  Verbryck  was  presi- 
dent], Domine  Erickson  was  substituted  in  his  place.  Where- 
upon the  letter  of  the  Rev.  Classis  to  the  committee  of  the 
Coetus  in  this  matter  was  read  to  the  delegates  from  Tappan, 
Cornelius  Kuyper,  Mr.  Haring,  and  John  Nagel.  These  dele- 
gates complained  that  Muzelius,  in  the  face  of  all  warnings, 
went  on  in  a  scandalous  and  sinful  manner,  not  only  sorely 
accusing,  with  abuse  and  threats,  the  minister  and  Consistory 
and  committee  of  the  Coetus,  but  also  preaching,  and  even 
baptizing  a  negro  without  his  making  a  profession  of  faith,  so 
that  the  schism  in  the  congregation  became  still  greater." 

"  Tappan. — The  Assembly  ordered  the  agreement  made 
some  years  since  between  Muzelius  and  the  congregation  of 
Tappan,  respecting  arrears  of  salary,  to  remain  in  statu  quo, 
since  the  members  of  this  body  cannot  recall  anything  of  its 
nature  beyond  what  is  contained  in  the  minutes.  Further  or- 
dered, that  Muzehus  be  written  to,  to  present  himself  before  us 
at  3  o'clock  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  which  was  done." 

"  Tappan. — The  committee  on  this  matter  was  again  exam- 


AMSTERDAM  CORRESPONDENCE  35 

ined,  and  the  Assembly  resolved  to  abide  by  the  answer  of  the 
Rev.  Classis,  still,  however,  intending  to  attend  to  the  emeri- 
tusship  of  Muzelius." 

"  Muzelius.—B.e  appeared,  and  his  affairs  were  taken  ad 
refei'endum." 

''  Committees.— DominQ  Curteniiis  and  the  Elder  Abraham 
Van  Wyck  were  appointed  a  committee  to  agree  with  Domine 
Muzelius  respecting  his  removal  from  the  congregation/' 

''  Muzelius.—The  committee  on  this  case  reported  that  Do- 
mine Muzelius,  on  condition  of  remaining  an  Emeritus  minis- 
ter, would  remove  out  of  the  congregation  and  forego  his  claims 
for  a  moderate  sum  of  money.  The  Assembly  agreed  that 
Domine  Muzehus,  on  the  written  condition  of  remo^ang  fairly 
and  promptly  from  Domine  Verbryck's  congregation,  of  releas- 
mg  them  from  their  obligations  for  a  sum  of  money,  and  pro- 
mising to  behave  in  a  Christian  manner,  according  to  God's 
word  and  the  Church  order,  would  be  held  and  recognized  as 
an  Emeritus  minister  The  Assembly  requested  Abraham 
Lefferts,  James  Roosevelt,  and  Elbert  Haring  to  adjust  mat- 
ters in  their  name  between  Domine  Muzelius  and  the  Consis- 
tory and  congregation  of  Tappan,  and  carry  out  the  agreement 
stated  m  the  foregoing  resolution.  Till  the  accomplishment  of 
this  object  Domine  Muzelius  is  to  abstain  from  all  ministerial 
service  in  Domine  Verbryck's  congregation.  And  if  the  agree- 
ment is  not  made,  then  the  Coetus  will  proceed  to  consider  the 
classical  letter  to  their  committee  on  this  subject.  All  of 
which  is  to  be  announced  to  him  orally." 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Twelfth  Coetus,  held  in  Septem- 
ber, 1754,  are  in  hand,  but  we  have  now  given  all  pre- 
served Coetus  references  to  Domine  Muzelius.  We  have, 
however,  two  other  sources  of  information. 

II.    From  the  Amsterdam  Correspondence. 

From  the  beginning  of  thought  among  our  American 
mmisters  and  people  on  the  subject  of  severing  the  Church 
on  this  side  from  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  (say  from 
about  1730),  to  the  final  adjustment  of  the  great  contro- 
versy in  1771,  correspondence  was  kept  up  at  a  very  lively 
rate  between  parties  here  representing  opposite  views,  and 
the  mother  Classis.     This    correspondence  became    very 


36  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS. 

voluminous.  The  Hon.  J.  Komeyn  Brodhead,  under  offi- 
cial commission  from  the  State  of  New  York  (1841-1844) 
to  procure  and  transcribe  original  documents  hearing  upon 
the  history  of  the  State,  secured  it  for  the  General  Synod 
of  our  Church.  References  to  it  will  be  found,  as  already 
stated,  in  the  Synod's  Minutes— vol.  xi.,  p.  112  ;  vol.  xii., 
p.  3.56  ;  vol.  xiii.,  p.  528,  etc.,  etc.  Most  of  it  is  now 
translated.  It  is  kept  in  the  Sage  Library  at  New  Bruns- 
wick. I  have  examined  it  as  far  as  is  necessary  for  my 
subject,  and  will  give  some  extracts  from  it  here.  They 
will  throw  further  light  on  the  course  taken  by  Domine 
Muzelius. 

First  we  have  two  letters  from  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam, 
both  bearing  date  June  9,  1738.  I  give  them  entire,  be- 
cause they  show  that  two  parties,  holding  the  opposite 
views  about  a  Coetus,  had  written  to  the  Classis.  They 
also  show  the  newness  of  the  subject  to  the  Classis  at  this 
early  date,  and  the  fact  that  it  did  not  yet  take  in  its  full 
bearing  and  was  seeking  light. 

Rev.  Sirs  and  Brethren  Du  Bois,  Freeman,  Van  Driessen, 
Curtenius,  Santvoord,  and  Haeghoort  : 

The  reply  to  the  letter  of  June,  1737,  signed  by  four  of  you 
gentlemen  and  sent  to  the  Rev.  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  was 
ready,  when  we  received  another  letter,  signed  by  all  of  you 
together,  on  September  13, 1737.  And  also  there  was  another 
one,  written  by  Mr.  Haeghoort  alone.  And  shortly  after  we 
received  a  third,  sent  to  the  Classis  on  the  |2-  of  the  same 
month,  by  Messrs.  Antonides,  Boel,  Mancius,  and  MuzeHus.  All 
these  were  communicated  to  the  members  in  Classis  of  the 
previous  month,  and  therefore  their  reply  to  them  had  to  be 
postponed  till  the  Classis  of  this  month.  Now,  therefore,  we 
say  in  the  name  of  Classis  that  the  same  learns  with  much 
satisfaction  that  you  are  watchful  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
Church  in  those  regions.  May  it  please  the  All-Good  and  All- 
Wise  God  to  discover  to  you  all  such  measures  as  may  be  cal- 
culated to  secure  the  highest  good  of  the  churches  entrusted  to 
your  care,  and,  these  having  been  projected  and  put  into 
execution,  may  He  follow  them  with  His  blessings  ! 

Now,  as  regards  the  particular  measure  of  the  Coetus  to  be 


AMSTERDAM  CORRESPONDENCE.  37 

annually  had  (no  Classis  co-ordinate  with  our  Classis,  but  a 
Coetus  subordinate  to  our  Classis,  as  you  seem  also  to  under- 
stand it),  we  will  readily  confess  that  we  are  not  in  the  least 
averse  to  that,  only  because  we  have  become  a  little  concerned 
about  this  by  the  letter  which  said  gentlemen  had  forwarded  to 
us.  These  are  of  opinion  that  a  Coetus,  far  from  promoting 
the  welfare  of  the  churches,  would  rather  interfere  with  their 
well-^being.  We  have  also  despatched  a  letter  to  these  gentle- 
men, wherein  we  request  them,  quite  fraternally  and  amicably, 
that  they  will  please  to  be  so  good,  with  the  banishing  of  all 
prejudices  and  the  quenching i?f  all  strange  fire,  as  to  mention 
to  us  simply  and  purely  the  objections  which  they  imagine 
would  lie  to  such  a  Coetus. 

Since  you  are  of  opinion  that  such  a  Coetus  would  be  very 
advantageous,  our  friendly  and  brotherly  request  is  that  you 
inform  us,  at  the  next  opportunity,  on  what  footing,  both  in 
general  and  in  particular,  you  would  require  a  Coetus,  adding 
the  reasons  for  which,  according  to  your  ideas,  not  only  the 
profitableness  but  also  the  necessity  of  such  a  Coetus  must 
seem  very  apparent.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Haeghoort  has  already 
mentioned  some  reasons  in  his  letter,  but,  since  it  seems  that 
his  letter  was  meant  to  be  private,  Ave  would  gladly  know  the 
reasons  which  weigh  most  forcibly  with  you  all.  Have,  then, 
the  goodness  to  mention  them  to  us,  and  thus  put  us  in  a  posi- 
tion to  judge  properly  of  the  uprightness  of  the  matters  you 
have  in  hand.  You  may  rest  assured  that  we  shall  use  all 
diligence  to  maturely  consider  the  matter  about  a  Coetus  at 
once  impartially,  and  having  nothing  else  in  view  than  the 
best  interests  of  your  congregations,  and  thus  to  communicate 
to  you  our  opinion  concerning  it,  with  all  brotherly  affection. 

From  such  a  brotherly  heart  it  proceeds  that  we  shall  not 
strongly  press,  but  pass  by,  the  expressions  which  Mr.  Haeg- 
hoort makes  use  of  concerning  the  action  of  our  Classis  in 
regard  to  the  request  made  more  than  two  years  ago  about 
the  person  of  John  Schuyler.  He  supposed  that  Classis  had 
paid  no  heed  whatever  to  his  request,  because  no  reply  was 
brought  to  him,  and  that  has  occasioned  some  discontent  in 
him.  But  yet  he  might  have  thought  the  Classis  had  no  doubt 
answered,  but  the  letter  had  probably  gone  astray.  This  is  the 
fact.  The  answer  to  the  letter  about  John  Schuyler  was  written 
on  October  1,  IToG,  and  isubseqaeuiiy  sent  on.     Vv'e  now  com- 


38  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS. 

municate  this  reply  to  you  as  the  same  is  found  on  our  letter 
book.  So  we  commend  you  to  God  and  the  word  of  His  grace, 
that  both  you  and  the  churches  over  which  God  has  made  3^ou 
overseers  may  abound  in  the  power  of  salvation.  May  also 
the  Lord's  most  precious  blessing  abound  upon  your  house- 
holds in  great  abundance.     Be  assured  that  we  are,  etc.,  etc, 

William  Shipmont,  President,  etc. 

John  Plantinus,  Clerk,  etc. 

The  second  letter,  of  the  same  date  (June  9,  1738),  was 
written  to  the  brethren  mentioned  in  the  first  letter  as 
opposed  to  the  Coetus.     It  runs  thus  : 

Eev.  Sirs  and  Brethren  Antonides,  Boel,  Mancius,  and 
Muzelius : 

It  is  indeed  as  you  write.  The  several  ministers  of  the 
churches  in  your  regions  must  be  vigilant  in  preserving  a  sub- 
ordination to  the  Rev.  Classis  of  Amsterdam. 

Therefore  it  pleases  us  much  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Muzelius 
requests  that  he  be  received  into  that  subordination.  We 
accept  him  with  all  our  hearts,  in  the  expectation  that  he  will 
further  everything  which  shall  tend,  not  only  to  the  preserva- 
tion, but  also,  together  with  this,  to  the  confirmation  of  this 
subordination. 

In  regard  to  the  matter  of  a  Coetus,  it  has  been  judged  of  in 
former  times  just  as  you  have  quoted  from  some  letters  sent 
across  formerly.  We  judge  still  in  the  same  way.  A  Coetus 
in  your  region,  co-ordinate  and  not  subordinate  to  the  Rev. 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  would  militate  against  church  regula- 
tions. Such  a  Coetus  must  not  be  thought  of.  There  might, 
however,  be  circumstances  when  a  subordinate  Coetus  might 
be  found  useful.  Whether  such  circumstances  present  them- 
selves in  your  regions  we  know  not.  This  we  know,  that 
Messrs.  Du  Bois,  Freeman,  Van  Driessen,  Curtenius,  Sant- 
voord,  and  Haeghoort  are  of  the  opinion  that  such  a  Coetus  is 
necessary  for  the  best  interests  of  the  church,  and  that  you  look 
upon  it  dift'erently.  What  are  we  to  judge  ?  We  are  not  upon 
the  ground.  We  have  requested  of  these  six  gentlemen,  if 
they  would  please,  to  have  the  goodness  to  communicate  to  us 
the  arguments  they  can  bring  forward,  not  only  for  the  ex- 
pediency, but  also  for  the  necessity,  of  such  a  Coetus,  and  we 
trust  they  will  mention  these  arguments  to  us.     We  likewise 


AMSTERDAM  CORRESPONDENCE.  39 

request  that  you  will  mention  to  us  your  arguments  against 
(the  Coetus)  in  all  faithfulness,  laying  aside  everything  which 
might  border  in  the  least  on  prejudice  and  strange  fire. 

You  recognize,  on  whichever  side  you  are,  that  the  Classis  is 
your  competent  judge  and  that  you  are  all  subordinate  to  it. 
Thus  the  gentlemen  on  both  sides  are  in  duty  bound  to  inform 
us  in  this  matter.  Of  ourselves  alone  we  can  see  nothing 
in  thi^  affair.  Through  your  instruction  we  must  be  en- 
lightened. When  we  shall  have  obtained  proper  information 
from  both  sides,  we  trust  that  we  shall  express  our  opinion  upon 
the  holding  or  not  holding  of  a  i^oetus  without  even  the  least 
prejudice,  and  determine  something  definitely  concerning  it. 
And  as  we  in  every  way  expect  of  those  gentlemen  who  are 
in  favor  of  a  Coetus  that  they  will  submit  themselves  to  our 
opinion  in  this  matter,  we  fully  expect  the  same  from  you. 
And  that  so  much  the  more  strongly  because  we  know,  and 
recall  it  still  with  much  pleasure,  how  Rev.  Mr.  Boel  has  ever 
been  very  careful  to  advocate  the  rights  of  our  Classis  and  to 
maintain  the  subordination,  wherein  we  are  assured  he  will 
persevere.  Concluding  herewith,  we  wish  you  very  heartily 
the  Lord's  rich  and  ample  blessing  in  an  abundant  measure, 
both  upon  yourselves  and  your  sacred  ministry,  as  also  upon 
your  families  and  respective  congregations.  Be  assured  that 
we  are,  etc,  etc. 

[Signed  as  above.] 

These  two  letters,  dated  in  1738,  reveal  that  Domine 
Muzelius  had  thus  early  become  an  opponent  of  the  Coe- 
tus idea,  to  which,  at  its  first  suggestion,  he  had  been  at 
least  not  openly  hostile.  And  they  reveal  that  the  Classis  of 
Amsterdam  at  this  date  had  looked  upon  him  with  appro- 
bation as  a  dutiful  supporter.  But  nine  years  had  now 
passed  away.  In  September,  1747,  as  has  been  seen,  the 
Coetus  at  last  really  organized,  I  have  given  Muzelius' 
strongly  hostile  letter  sent  in  to  it  at  its  first  session. 
From  1747  to  1754  we  have  read  in  its  minutes  of  its  trou- 
bles with  the  Domine,  I  give  below  material  from  the  Am- 
sterdam Correspondence  during  the  same  seven  years,  show- 
ing how  the  Amsterdam  Classis  changed  its  views  of  the 
Domine  and  indorsed  the  views  and  action  of  the  Coetus. 
First,  however,  let  me  give  an  intervening  letter,  dated  in 


40  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS. 

174:3,  showing  that  the  Classis,  since  its  two  letters  of  June, 
1738,  had  taken  a  decided  stand  on  the  side  of  the  Coetus. 
From  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  October  29,  1743  : 

To  Rev.  Mess7^s.  Boel,  Muzelius,  and  Mancius,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  York  : 

We  return  you  thanks  for  the  declaration  of  love  and  esteem 
to  our  Classis  which  we  find  in  your  letter  of  April  25,  1743. 
You  may  rest  assured  that  we  also  entertain  great  esteem  and 
affection  for  you,  and  it  affords  us  joy  when  we  find  occasion  to 
exhibit  the  jDroofs  thereof. 

"With  such  feelings  do  we  reply  to  your  letter  aforesaid,  and 
because  of  such  feelings  we  have  not  the  heart  at  present  to  pro- 
nounce judgment  upon  the  matters  mentioned  in  your  letter, 
and  which  reflect  upon  one  or  another  of  your  brethren.  What 
we  have  suggested  to  your  fellow-laborers  in  office  we  now  re- 
quest of  you  also.  Unite  heart  and  hand,  and  stand  firm,  and 
yield  not  to  those  spirits  which  occasion  troubles  in  the  Church 
of  our  Saviour.  Let  charity  cover  that  which  was  not  done 
with  sufficient  prudence.  Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife 
or  vain  glory,  but  in  lowliness  of  mind  let  each  esteem  other 
better  than  himself.  Thus  unitedly,  in  your  respective  stations, 
you  will  be  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners.  We  may  here 
add  that  Mr.  Du  Bois  and  others  have,  with  justice,  been  dis- 
pleased at  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Goetschius.  We  have  expressed 
our  opinion  to  them  on  this  subject.  It  is  briefly  this  :  We  de- 
clare that  we  consider  the  ordination  and  installation  of  Mr. 
Goetschius  to  have  been  wholly  illegal ;  that  if  he  is  to  become 
a  lawful  minister,  these  must  be  again  ratifled  and  in  a  better 
manner;  that  we  cannot  give  a  final  decision  of  this  matter,  be- 
cause it  has  been  taken  before  the  Synod  and  put  on  record  (by 
them),  so  that  he  must  now  await  the  decision  of  the  Christian 
Synod  in  the  matter,  but  exhort  Mr.  Goetschius  to  exhibit  a 
Christian  and  submissive  deportment. 

In  regard  to  a  Coetus,  be  good  enough  to  let  yourselves  be 
convinced  by  others  as  to  what  may  conduce  to  edification  and 
improvement.  When  you  have  fully  decided  on  the  Articles, 
and  consider  that  some  explanation  may  be  necessary,  let  us 
know,  and  we  will  deliberate  upon  them,  and  ever  show  that  we 
are  what  we  subscribe  ourselves.  In  the  name  of  the  Classis 
we  wish  you  the  Lord's  most  precious  blessing. 

Amsterdam.  October  29,  1743.  [Signed  as  before.] 


AMSTERDAM  CORRESPONDENCE.  41 

Letter  from  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  as  follows  : 

To  the  Rev.  Learned  Mr.  F.  Miizelius,  Pastor  at  Tappan : 

Rev.  Sir  and  Much  Esteemed  Brother. — It  is  quite  a 
long  time  ago  since  we  advised  the  brethren,  overseers  of  the 
Church  of  New  York  and  surrounding  places,  and  exhorted 
them  in  a  friendly  and  brotherly  way  to  institute  a  Coetus  for 
the  preservation  of  unity  in  doctrine  and  the  promotion  of  the 
edific^ion  of  the  churches,  in  which  Coetus,  assembling  at  set 
times,  the  interests  of  the  entrusted  flocks  would  be  mutually 
discussed.  And  lately  we  learned  with  joy  that  a  desired  be- 
ginning of  that  work  had  been  .Biade,  but  with  deep  regret  that 
there  were  some  among  the  ministers  in  that  country  who  could 
not  yet  be  induced  to  this  work,  among  other  reasons  because 
in  church  matters  they  were  subject  to  the  Classis  of  Amster- 
dam, and  in  civil  matters  to  their  lawful  rulers.  Among  these 
we  are  informed  that  you  are  found,  and  hence  we  are  moved 
to  write  to  you  in  private  upon  this  so  profitable  a  matter,  and 
to  commend  to  you  the  promotion  of  the  same.  Just  think, 
worthy  brother,  of  how  much  importance  it  is  and  how  fruitful 
of  good  it  would  be  for  the  overseers  of  the  Church  in  any  land 
to  unite  themselves  mutually  b}"  a  close  bond,  and,  assembling 
fraternally  at  one  time  and  place,  to  discuss  not  alone,  as  the 
case  may  require,  matters  of  doctrine,  but  also  to  sustain  each 
other  with  counsel  and  action,  and  thus  by  common  advice  to 
lend  additional  force  to  the  execution  of  profitable  measures. 
The  political  subordination  to  your  lawful  authorities  is  not 
thereby  taken  away,  since  civil  matters  will  not  be  discussed 
in  such  a  Coetus,  and  you  do  recognize  yourself  as  subject  in 
church  matters  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam.  This  not  only  re- 
mains intact,  but  will  in  fact  be  confirmed  the  more  by  the  in- 
stitution of  such  attendance  upon  such  Coetus,  since  the  Classis 
could  communicate  its  advices  and  considerations  to  the  church- 
es much  better  and  easier  by  the  intervention  of  such  Coetus 
than  by  writing  ever}^  time  to  the  particular  churches  and  their 
officers.  Well,  then,  brother,  let  us  be  rejoiced  over  you  in  this 
matter.  So  let  God's  precious  blessing  be,  according  to  our 
wish,  upon  your  esteemed  person  and  sacred  ministry,  to  the 
extension  of  Christ's  kingdom,  even  as  we  also,  after  offering 
our  services  and  our  greeting  of  brotherly  love,  testify  ourselves 
to  be,  etc.  [Signed  as  before.] 

Amsterdam,  October  2,  1747. 


42  REV.    FREDERIC  MUZELIUS. 

From  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  the  Coetus,  May  5, 
1749 — extract  only  : 

"  We  are  deeply  concerned  about  the  sad  condition  of  the 
congregation  at  Tappan  through  the  misconduct  of  the  Rev. 
Muzelius,  afterward  confirmed  by  a  letter  from  the  elders  of 
Tappan  of  November  8,  1748,  and  another  of  the  same  date 
from  Revs.  Haeghoort  and  Goetschius,  as  president  and  clerk 
of  that  committee. 

''We  commend  the  action  of  that  committee,  even  so  far  as 
the  censure.  But,  to  secure  every  forbearance,  we  would  gladly 
see  that  Coetus  would  also  take  the  treatment  of  this  case  upon 
itself  and  settle  it.  We  shall  order  Rev.  Muzelius  by  letter  to 
present  himself  before  the  Coetus  and  to  submit  himself  to  the 
sentence  under  penalty  of  deposition. " 

Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  Rev.  Mr.  Haeghoort,  May  5, 
1749 — brief  extract  only: 

"We  have  written  to  the  Rev.  Coetus,  which  we  have  re- 
quested, if  possible,  to  settle  the  Tappan  case." 

Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  Domine  Muzelius  himself,  dated 
May  5,  1749 — given  entire: 

Rev.  Sir: 

That  the  complaints  made  by  many  against  you,  concerning 
your  conduct  as  unbecoming  a  clergyman,  are  painful  to  us, 
you  will  easily  believe,  if  you  will  give  us  the  credit  of  being 
men  having  a  desire  for  the  glory  of  God^s  Name  and  the  edi- 
fication of  the  Church,  and  who  would  also  gladly  see  jowr  soul 
saved  and  preserved.  We  will  not  unfold  at  length  the  sins 
laid  to  your  charge,  but  merely  say  that  we  must  indorse  the 
conduct  of  the  committee,  and  also  your  suspension,  trusting 
that  this,  as  a  chastisement  of  God,  may  be  or  become  sanctified 
to  your  soul  through  the  mercies  of  God.  To  use  all  forbear- 
ance, we  have  requested  the  Rev.  Coetus  to  take  the  matter  in 
hand,  to  investigate  it,  and,  if  possible,  to  settle  it  in  our  name. 
And  we  must  warn  you  (if  Coetus  should  do  so)  to  present 
yourself  before  it,  and  to  submit  in  this  point.  Did  you  not 
formerly  desire  to  appear  before  Coetus  as  a  committee  ?  We 
do  not  expect,  therefore,  that  you  will  refuse  this  at  present. 
You  would  in  such  case  have  to  expect  a  severe  treatment, 
and  not  be  astonished  should  a  total  deposition  be  the  conse- 


AMSTERDAM  CORRESPONDENCE.  43 

quence.     We  are  sorry,  and  it  is  painful  to  us  that  we  must 

write  to  you  in  this  manner.     The  merciful   Lord  Jesus  be 

gracious  to  you,  and  enable  us  in  the  future  once  more  to  write 

to  you  as  our  beloved  and  esteemed  brother,  with  consolation, 

etc-  [Signed  as  usual.] 

Amsterdam,  May  5,  1749. 

Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  the  church  at  Tappan,  May  5, 
1Y49:    * 

To  the  Church  at  Tappan: 

Worthy  and  Beloved  Friends.— Painful  is  it  to  us  that 
we  must  hear  of  the  sad  condition  of  the  church  at  Tappan, 
largely  caused  by  the  misconduct  of  your  pastor,  Rev.  Muzelius. 
The  Lord  have  mercy  upon  you  and  be  gracious  to  the  church, 
for  He  is  able  to  do  for  us  far  more  exceeding  abundantly 
above  what  we  are  able  either  to  ask  or  to  think.  Let  us  exhort 
you  to  search  the  Scriptures  with  more  earnestness,  and  daily 
with  a  prayerful,  humble  heart  to  seek  part  in  the  teaching 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  Teacher  without  parallel,  who  will 
gladly  teach  the  devout  suppHant  His  ways.  We  have  commit- 
ted the  case  of  Rev.  Muzelius  to  the  Rev.  Coetus,  to  investigate 
it,  and  if  possible  to  settle  it.  And  we  trust  that  said  Rev. 
Muzelius  will  voluntaril}-  submit  himself  to  this  our  resolution, 
as  also  that  jou  will  gladly  contribute  all  in  your  power  to 
make  an  end  of  this  difficult  affair  in  some  way  or  other.  We 
wish  you  much  blessing  and  grace  from  the  Father  of  Lights, 
out  of  the  fulness  of  our  most  adorable  Saviour. 

[Signed  as  before.  J 
Amsterdam,  May  5,  1749. 

Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  the  Coetus,  May  7,  1753— ex- 
tract only: 

"  Finally  we  must  testify  our  grief  concerning  the  bad  beha- 
vior and  unfortunate  conduct  of  Rev.  Muzelius.  About  this  the 
Rev.  Deputati  of  the  Coetus  have  written  a  letter  December  10, 

1752,  to  which  we  had  the  honor  to  give  an  answer  in  April  2, 

1753,  which  we  suppose  has  been  read,  wherefore  we  hold  our- 
selves on  that,  because  we  would  not  trouble  you  to  read  twice 
the  same  thing." 

Here  we  close  our  extracts  from  the  Amsterdam  Corre- 
spondence. We  have  still  a  third  source  from  which  to 
form  a  judgment  of  Muzelius,  viz.,  the  record  book  of  the 


44  REV.    FREDERIC   MUZELIUS   IN   RETIREMENT. 

schismatic  church  (1767-1778).  But  let  us  remember  now 
that  at  the  time  of  this  last  extract  (1753)  we  are  already 
four  years  beyond  the  close  of  his  pastorate.  What  we 
shall  now  give  from  the  record  book  named  will  relate  to 
events  within  the  days  of  his  successor,  Domine  Verbryck 
(1750-1784),  and  cover  those  days  almost  to  the  end.  Mu- 
zelius  continued  to  live  in  Tappan,  and  to  annoy  the  regular 
congregation  and  Domine  Verbryck  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power.  The  people  had  at  first  supplied  him  with  a  house 
and  an  annual  stipend.  This  arrangement  had,  however, 
been  subsequently  changed,  and  the  case  had  been  finally 
adjusted  by  a  satisfactory  single  payment.  From  this  time 
forward  he  acknowledged  no  control.  He  had  a  few  fol- 
lowers, in  whose  houses  he  preached  and  among  whom  he 
performed  baptisms  and  marriages.  How  he  caused  Domine 
Verbryck  to  be  maligned  in  the  Conferentie,  the  body 
opposed  to  the  Coetus,  will  appear  under  our  history  of  the 
Verbryck  pastorate.  But  there  will  be  no  better  place  than 
here  for  me  to  finish  the  life  of  Muzelius  himself  by  giving 
what  we  have  of  his  organization  of  a  separate  church. 

III.  From  the  Kecords  of  the  Schismatic  Church. 

The  book  opens  with  the  following  words  (translated 
from  the  Dutch): 

"Beginning  of  the  acts  of  the  churches  of  Kakiat  and  Tap- 
pan,  subordinate  through  the  Rev.  Classis  of  Amsterdam  to  the 
Most  Rev.  Synod  of  North  Holland." 

There  were  several  of  these  insurgent  churches  started 
at  the  same  time  over  the  country.  Here  we  have  two  of 
them  uniting  for  organization,  Kakiat  (West  New  Hemp- 
stead) and  Tappan.  They  kept  their  minutes  together.  It 
is,  however,  easy  to  distinguish,  in  business  matters,  what 
belongs  to  Tappan. 

The  first  entry  in  the  book  shows  that  a  meeting  was  held 
by  certain  people  of  Tappan,  February  25,  1767.  They  call 
themselves  "chosen  trustees."    They  say: 

"  We  the  chosen  trustees  of  our  Reformed  cliurcli  of   Tap- 


RECORDS   OF  THE   SCHISMATIC  CHURCH.  45 

pan,  with  the  others  of  our  church,  now  choose  our  trusted 
friend  Peter  Haring  for  our  Voorleser  in  the  aforesaid  church 
of  Tappan,  belonging  under  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam.  Where- 
to we  set  our  individual  hands." 

To  this  introducing  paragraph  we  find  appended  twenty- 
three  r^mes,  all  of  males.  The  next  entry  states  that  elders 
were  ordained  for  these  churches  in  the  December  follow- 
ing, those  for  Tappan  on  the  2Tth,  and  those  for  Kakiat  on 
the  29th. 

The  first  elders  for  Tappan  were  Matthys  Conklin,  Jo- 
hannis  Bogert,  and  Cornelius  Haring,  and  the  first  deacons 
Stoffel  Bell,  Jacob  Straet,  and  Abraham  Cuyper.  All  of 
these,  we  think,  had  been  members,  but  we  find  that  none 
of  them  had  been  officers,  of  the  regular  church. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  just  here  that  there  is  in  this 
book  no  account  of  more  than  one  subsequent  election  for 
consistorymen  during  the  whole  eleven  years'  history  of 
the  organization.  On  the  2Sth  of  August,  1769,  Cornelius 
Abm.  Haring  and  Cornelius  Corns.  Smith  were  elected 
elders  in  place  of  Johannis  Bogert  and  Matthys  Conklin, 
and  Jan  de  Baen  was  elected  deacon  in  place  of  Jacob 
Straet. 

There  must,  however,  have  been  at  least  one  other  elec- 
tion between  1767  and  1769,  for  Theodorus  Polhemus  and 
G.  Snediger  were  present  as  elders  at  a  meeting  held  April 
8,  1769.  There  is  no  evidence  on  the  book  of  others  ever 
elected,  and  no  deacons  are  mentioned  anywhere  except 
the  four  given  above. 

Counting  in  as  members  the  23  males  who  signed  the 
first  entry  of  February  25,  1767,  we  find  enrolled  in  the 
records  48  persons  who  were  connected  with  the  Ta})pan 
branch  of  this  joint  organization  for  the  whole  eleven 
years.  The  Kakiat  branch  appears  to  have  had  a  very 
much  smaller  number  still. 

There  was,  however,  quite  an  activity  in  baptisms.  The 
record  has  164  during  the  whole  period,  the  couples  who 
present  them  being  lod  in  number.  Probably  it  em- 
braces all  the  Kakiat  children  as  w^ell  as  the  Tappan,  and 


46  RECORDS  OF  THE   SCHISMATIC  CHURCH. 

takes  in  besides  children  from  a  large  Bergen  County  ter- 
ritory infected  with  the  schismatic  spirit.  I  am  confident 
that  the  organization  never  had  a  really  installed  pastor. 
It  was  regularly  served  by  a  Voorleser,  and  kept  together, 
at  first  by  several  ministers,  but  during  most  of  its  entire 
history  by  Muzelius  himself.  The  ministers  w^ho  promoted 
it  were  Muzelius,  Kuyper,  Blaeuw,  Eubel,  Boelen,  ^nd 
Rysdyk.  All  these  appear  as  officiants  at  baj)tisms.  Do- 
mine  J.  M.  Kern  is  mentioned  in  a  paper  below,  but  he 
certainly  had  nothing  to  do  with  this  Tappan  body. 

The  ordination  of  the  first  Consistory  was  of  course  the 
official  organization  of  the  church.  As  stated,  it  was  per- 
formed by  Domine  Blaeuw  on  the  27th  of  December,  1Y69. 
At  once  after  ordination  it  united  with  a  like  body  or- 
dained for  the  Kakiat  party,  and  issued  the  following 
manifesto  : 

(Ti^anslated.) 

We,  the  undersigned,  newly  appointed  elders  and  deacons 
of  the  churches  of  Tappan  and  Kakiat,  subject  to  the  Highly 
Rev.  Christian  Synod  of  North  Holland,  through  membership  in 
the  Rev.  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  and  those  who  shall  hereafter 
succeed  us,  do,  by  these  our  signatures,  declare  that  we  hold  our- 
selves to  that  which  has  been  resolved  upon  between  our  sepa- 
rated members  of  Tappan  and  Kakiat,  and  the  three  Messrs.,  the 
preachers  J.  C.  Rubel,  J.  M.  Kern,  and  C.  Blaeuw,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  our  churches  as  a  part  of  our  Church  in  the 
Fatherland  ;  that  we  will  be  and  remain  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  and,  through  this,  under  that  of 
the  Synod  of  North  Holland,  on  penalty  that  (if)  we  have  sen- 
timents (or  if  we)  conduct  ourselves  contrary  to  this  condition, 
we  acknowledge  ourselves  de  facto  deprived  of  our  offices  and 
the  right  of  voting  in  these  our  congregations. 

This  is  signed  by  all  the  consistorymen  of  the  two  or- 
ganizations. 

We  cannot  get  the  full  history  of  this  subject  without 
introducing  just  here  the  history  of  the  pastoral  period  of 
Domine  Verbryck,  with  which  it  is  painfully  involved.  To 
this,  therefore,  let  us  proceed  from  this  point. 


REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 
{Second  Real  Pastor.) 

>  SEPTEMBER  11,    1750 — JANUARY  31,    1784. 

On  page  250  of  Beers'  &  Co.'s  "History  of  Rockland 
County,"  published  in  1884,  i^  the  following  statement  : 

*'  In  the  seventeenth  century  there  lived  on  Long  Island  one 
Samuel  Garretson.  He  had  several  sons,  the  oldest  of  whom, 
Bernardus,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Raritan,  Somerset  Co. ,  N.  J. , 
and  when  the  deed  for  this  farm  was  drawn  his  family  name 
was  changed  to  Verbryck. " 

The  writer  of  this  statement  did  not  understand  the  ap- 
pearance here  of  this  name  Verbryck,  Samuel  Garretson 
(then  written  Gerritsen)  was  never  in  American  usage,  and 
in  the  seventeenth  century  was  not  even  in  Holland  usage, 
a  full  name.  It  was  simply  Samuel  with  his  patronymic. 
It  meant  "  Samuel,  son  of  Gerrit."  The  taking  on  of  Ver- 
bryck by  this  Samuel  Gerritsen  was  not  a  change  of  name, 
but  the  assumption  of  a  surname  in  a  legal  transaction,  in 
compliance  with  what  had  long  been  among  Hollanders  a 
legal  requirement.  In  common  family  use  the  forced  sur- 
name was  slow  in  taking  hold,  and  popularly  this  man  had 
been  known  only  as  Samuel  Gerritsen.  But  the  moment 
it  became  necessary  to  enter  his  name  in  a  legal  paper,  the 
surname  Verbryck,  beyond  doubt  long  before  adopted  and 
even  legally  registered,  came  to  the  front.  The  necessi- 
ties of  deeds  brought  it  forward,  and  this  at  a  time  and 
in  a  way  which  would  keep  it  in  use.  This  is  one  of  hun- 
dreds of  illustrations  of  what  was  constantly  occurring 
just  at  this  time,  and  in  fact  had  been  constantly  occur- 
ring since  the  first  appearance  of  Hollanders  upon  Ameri- 
can soil.  Later  on  in  our  history  it  will  come  up  again  in 
the  genealogies  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole  and  Rev.  George  M. 
S.  Blauvelt^ 


48  PASTORATE   OF  REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

This  Bernardus  Verbryck  who  thus  settled  at  Raritan 
had,  the  same  history  tells  us,  three  sons,  Samuel,  John, 
and  Wilhelmus.  The  second  and  third  of  these  are  said  to 
have  removed  to  Kentucky  and  never  to  have  been  heard 
from  since.  Perhaps  they  did  not  take,  or,  at  any  rate, 
did  not  use,  this  name.  But  the  oldest  son,  Samuel,  is 
with  us  an  object  of  interest,  as  he  was  the  second  real 
pastor  of  the  Tappan  church. 

This  son  was  born  at  Raritan,  April  30,  1Y21.  Growing 
up,  he  at  first  determined  to  learn  the  wheelwright's  trade. 
But  having  experienced  spiritual  conversion,  he  changed 
this  purpose  and  studied  for  the  ministry  under  Domines 
John  Leydt,  John  H.  Goetschius,  Benjamin  Van  Der  Linde, 
and  Theodorus  J.  Frelinghuysen.  When  near  the  close  of 
his  studies,  before  he  became  pastor  of  Tappan,  he  mar- 
ried, on  the  Yth  of  April,  1750,  Susanna,  sister  of  Domiue 
Van  Der  Linde,  daughter  of  Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde  and 
Ariaentje  Westervelt,  and  granddaughter  of  Roelof  Van 
Der  Linde  and  Susanna  Hendricks.  She  was  born  May 
18,  1723,  and  baptized  at  Hackensack,  May  10,  1721.  The 
pastorate  of  Domine  Verbryck  at  Tappan  began  in  No- 
vember, 1750,  and  continued  till  his  death  in  January, 
1784.  Mrs.  Verbryck  survived  him  many  years,  till 
August,  1807.  The  remains  of  both  were  interred  at  Tap- 
pan,  in  the  cemetery  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The 
original  stones  are  still  standing  and  bear  the  following- 
inscriptions  : 

"  In  Memory  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Verbryck,  late  Minister  of 
the  Gospel  at  Tappan  and  New  Hempstead,  who  departed  this 
life  on  the  31st  of  January,  1784,  aged  62  years,  9  months,  and 
13  days."  (There  is  an  entry  in  the  church  book  stating  that 
his  funeral  took  place  on  the  2d  of  February.) 

"  In  Memory  of  Susanna  Van  Der  Linde,  consort  of  the  late 
Samuel  Verbryck,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  16th  of  August, 
1807,  aged  84  years,  3  months,  and  28  days." 

The  Minutes  of  the  Coetus  and  those  of  the  Conferentie 
are  both  full  of  references  to  Domine  Verbryck.  His 
ministry  at  Tappan  extended  over  a  wonderfully  stormy 


STORMY   PERIOD— COETUS   PAPER.  49 

period.  He  had  the  retired  Muzehus  in  his  neighborhood 
from  its  beginning  to  within  less  than  two  years  of  its 
close.  The  whole  period  of  the  American  Eevolution  also 
fell  within  its  limits.  Then,  too,  the  great  energy  of  the 
Coetus  and  Conferentie  controversy  was  expended  within 
it.  And,  further,  we  have  to  add  that  he  gave  himself 
earnestly  to  the  chief  subject  of  the  later  years  of  that 
controversy — viz.,  the  founding  of  an  independent  educa- 
tional institution  for  our  American  Church,  in  which  it 
might  prepare  its  own  young^men  for  the  ministry.  Some 
of  his  own  congregation  bitterly  opposed  him  in  his  views 
and  efforts,  as  we  have  seen  already  and  shall  see  further 
on  in  our  story.  Several  very  innocent  people,  not  com- 
prehending the  vastly  important  bearings  of  the  pending 
conflict,  were  quite  readily  entrapped.  Conditions  gave 
Muzelius  a  great  advantage.  But  Domine  Verbryck  was 
beyond  his  people  in  their  foresight  and  bore  himself 
with  splendid,  manly  courage.  His  ideas  from  the  begin- 
ning were  those  which  grew  upon  the  denomination  at 
large  and  ultimately  prevailed.  The  year  1771  saw  them 
adopted  by  the  whole  American  Church.  We  shall  now 
proceed  to  give  all  that  the  preserved  papers  of  the  Coetus 
and  the  Conferentie  have  in  reference  to  him. 

The  Second  Coetus,  held  in  New  York  in  April,  1748,  has 
this  passage  in  a  letter  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  : 

"  Domine  Frelinghuj^sen  was  absent,  but  wrote  that  his  Con- 
sistory were  still  unfavorable  to  the  Coetus.  He  commended 
Verbryck  as  a  most  diligent  scholar  and  of  fine  promise.  As 
to  the  letter  of  the  Rev.  Classis  to  us  respecting  such  requests 
[the  Coetus  had  asked  its  permission  to  examine  and  ordain 
students],  he  has  been  led  to  consider  whether  he  is  not  the 
nearer  minister  who  should  represent  to  the  Rev.  Classis  the 
excellent  testimonials  of  this  j^oung  man.  So  far  as  concerns 
the  Coetus,  which  alone  can  make  this  young  man  known  to 
the  Classis,  you  may  be  assured  that  nothing  of  this  nature 
shall  be  done  bj"  us  which  will  not  consist  \vith  the  wise  ap- 
proval of  your  Rev.  Body." 

The  following  is  the  student's  personal  application,  found 
upon  the  minutes  of  the  same  session  : 
4 


50  PASTORATE   OF   REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

"The  student  Samuel  Verbryck  requested  in  the  name  of 
Domine  FreHnghuysen,  of  New  Albany,  and  other  ministers, 
that  the  Coetus  would  write  to  the  Rev.  Classis  for  permission 
to  examine  him  for  license.  He  was  told,  with  a  reference  to 
the  express  declaration  of  the  Classis,  that  the  Coetus  would  do 
what  it  could  on  his  behalf." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Third  Coetus,  held  in  New 
York  in  September,  1748,  we  have  important  passages,  as 
follows  : 

"  Request  for  Verbryck. — It  was  unanimously  agreed  to 
unite  in  the  warmest  manner  to  the  Rev.  Classis  in  behalf  of 
the  student  Verbryck,  that  he  belonged  to  the  company  of 
Leydt  and  Van  Der  Linde,  and  that  he  was  a  diligent  young 
man  and  of  edifying  life.  This  was  committed  to  the  Clerk 
Extraordinary  of  the  New  York  Circle." 

The  clerk  intended  was  the  Rev.  G.  Dubois.  He  imme- 
diately wrote,  according  to  his  instructions,  as  follows  : 

' '  We  take  the  liberty  most  earnestly  and  importunately  to 
entreat  the  Rev.  Assembly  [the  Classis  of  Amsterdam]  to  be 
pleased  to  grant  to  the  Coetus,  in  case  of  the  student  Samuel 
Verbryck,  power  to  examine  him,  and,  if  he  be  found  fit,  to  or- 
dain him  fully  to  the  holy  office.  The  Coetus  observes  the  ex- 
press declaration  of  the  Rev.  Classis  that  it  is  disinclined  to 
allow  this  hereafter  to  the  Coetus.  The  Coetus  is  also  disin- 
clined to  urge  the  point  save  in  singular  instances  in  which  it 
may  be  thought  proper.  Such  the  Coetus  judges  to  be  the  case 
with  this  student. 

"I.  He  has  studied  with  Messrs.  Leydt  and  Van  Der  Linde, 
and  is  the  only  one  now  remaining  of  that  company. 

"  II.  He  has  everywhere  the  name  of  a  very  virtuous  and  edi- 
fying young  man,  and  some  particular  circumstances  stimulate 
us  on  his  behalf,  and  not  without  reason  : 

"  1.  He  has  a  regular  certificate  as  a  church  member. 
"2.  What  he  exhibited  in  his  request  to  the  Coetus, 
and  the  testimonials  of  his  progress  under  various  persons 
in  the  languages  and  theology. 

*'  3.  Domine  Frelinghuysen  and  other  ministers  of  the 
Coetus  deemed  him  fit,  and  spoke  in  praise  of  his  accept- 
able gifts  for  preaching. 


COETUS  PAPERS— CALL.  51 

"  4.  Domine  Frelinghuysen  had  already  written  to  the 
Rev.  Classis  for  him,  in  the  hope  and  behef  that  the 
Coetus  would  do  the  same,  which  has  now  happened, 
before  we  received  the  letter  of  the  Rev.  Classis  in  which 
they  show  their  disinclination  that  hereafter  the  Coetus 
should  make  such  requests.  On  account  of  both,  then, 
the  Coetus  asks  in  the  most  friendly  way  that  this 
bequest  may  be  granted." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Fifth  Coetus,  held  in  New 
York  in  November,  1749,  occurs  the  following  : 

"  The  student  Samuel  Verbryck  was  examined,  and,  his  ex- 
amination being  finished  with  credit,  he  was  declared  a  can- 
didate for  the  ministry. 

"At  Tappan  affairs  are  more  prosperous.  It  is  more  than 
probable  that  the  candidate  Verbryck  will  be  called  there." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Sixth  Coetus,  held  in  New 
York  in  September,  1750,  we  have  the  following  : 

"  Case  of  Verbryck. — The  call  of  Domine  Verbryck  to  be 
minister  of  the  congregations  of  Tappan  and  New  Hempstead 
[now  Clarkstown]  was  presented.    No  fault  was  found  with  it. ' 

^  The  call  to  Domine  Verbryck  is  entered  in  full  upon  the  church 
book  in  the  Dutch  language.  The  principal  part  of  it,  in  English,  is 
published  in  Beers  &  Co.'s  "Rockland  County  History"  and  need  not 
be  given  here.  It  was  drawn  up  June  17,  1750,  tuider  Domine  John 
H.  Goetschius  as  Moderator  of  the  Consistory  meeting,  and  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Coetus  as  above,  and  ratified  September  11,  1750. 

The  church  of  New  Hempstead  (Clarkstown)  had  at  this  date  just 
been  organized.  From  this  time  (1750)  onward  to  1831  this  church 
and  that  at  Tappan  carried  on  their  work  jointly  under  but  one  pastor 
for  tbe  two.  Domine  Verbryck  and  Domine  Lansing  successively 
covered  a  period  of  eighty-one  years,  doing  service  in  both  these 
churches. 

The  call  to  Domine  Verbryck  was  for  eighty  pounds  a  year,  two- 
thirds  to  be  paid  by  Tappan  and  one-third  by  Clarkstown,  with  the 
understanding  that  tlie  total  should  be  increased  to  one  hundred 
pounds  as  soon  as  Tappan  should  be  "relieved  from  the  burden  of 
Muzelius."  The  call  is  almost  tiresomely  explicit  upon  the  relations 
the  Domine  was  to  bear  to  each  of  the  congregations  and  the  relative 
amount  of  service  he  was  to  render  to  each.  The  people  were  to  fur- 
nish him  with  a  parsonage,  barn,  well,  orchard,  garden,  farm,  and 
sufficient  firewood  for  his  needs.     All  these  conveniences  were  to  be 


52  PASTORATE   OF    REV.    SAMUEL  YERBRYCK. 

"Examination. — Domine  Verbryck,  after  delivering  a  formal 
discourse,  was  admitted  to  an  examination,  which  was  con- 
ducted by  the  Moderators  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Assembly. 
After  signing  the  instrument  prepared  for  candidates,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  congregations  of  Tappanand  New  Hempstead. 

'■  Ordainers  of  Domine  Yerhryck. — Domine  Curtenius  and 
Domine  Goetschius  were  chosen  to  ordain  Mr.  Verbryck." 

In  a  letter  sent  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  at  the  close 
of  this  Coetus  it  is  said : 

"  As  to  other  matters,  they  will  appear  from  the  minutes,  espe- 
cially the  examination  of  Domine  Verbryck,  which  gave  much 
satisfaction.     He  has  been  sent  to  the  congregation  at  Tappan."' 

Nothing  further,  needing  to  be  quoted  here,  occurs  in  the 
preserved  Minutes  of  the  Coetus  in  regard  to  Domine  Ver- 
bryck or  the  church  of  Tappan.  The  Domine  continued 
to  be  a  member  of  the  body  to  the  end  of  its  existence. 
He  was  president  of  the  Eleventh  Coetus,  September  11, 
1753,  and,  as  I  have  shown,  left  the  chair  to  Domine  Erick- 
sou  when  the  case  of  Domine  Muzelius  came  up.  He  was 
prominent  on  committees  always,  and  especially  prominent 
in  all  movements  looking  to  the  change  of  the  Coetus  into 
a  Classis. 

If  we  are  to  find  people  out  of  sympathy  with  Domine 
Verbryck,  we  shall  find  them,  not  in  the  Coetus,  but  in 
the  Conferentie.  The  first  attack  we  find  upon  him  is  in  a 
letter  of  the  Conferentie  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  dated 
October  15,  1761.  This  letter  not  only  shows  how  bitter 
this  body  was  toward  him,  but  reveals  without  reserve  the 

at  Tappan.  and  they  pi*ove  clearly  that  the  Tappan  parsonage  building 
was  in  being  before  1750.  Let  us  also  remember  that  Domine  Muzelius 
had  been  ordered  to  vacate  it.  I  am  satisfied  that  it  was  built  for  him 
soon  after  the  deeding  of  the  ninety-seven  acres  to  the  church  in 
1729. 

Of  course  the  call  to  Domine  Verbryck  requii-ed  him  to  divide  his 
Sabbaths  between  Tappan  and  Clarkstown.  He  gave  two-thirds  of 
these  to  Tappan,  administered  the  communion  in  each  church  three 
times  each  year,  and  visited  each  congregation  once  in  each  year 
irova.  house  to  house — of  course  with  an  elder,  according  to  the  usages 
of  the  Reformed  churches. 


CONFERENTIE  PAPERS.  53 

cause  for  its  hostility.  We  at  this  day  think  the  letter 
a  strong  incidental  testimony  to  his  credit.  It  speaks  as 
follows : 

''Since  our  meeting  a  notable  division  has  occurred  in  the 
village  of  Tappan,  which  we  briefly  mention,  that  you  may  see 
what  a  turbulent  fellow  there  is  among  that  people.  The  min- 
ister, vrtthout  direction  from  the  congregation  or  Consistory, 
had  engaged  with  other  ministers  of  the  so-called  Coetus  to 
obtain  from  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  a  charter  for  the  erec- 
tion of  an  academy  in  that  pr(M'ince.  Thirty-eight  heads  of 
famihes  took  this  so  ill  that  they  refused  to  pay  the  Domine's 
salary,  and  when  asked  the  reason  of  their  refusal,  assigned 
this,  which,  however,  was  not  admitted.  The  minister,  still 
adhering  obstinately  to  his  purpose,  used  all  means  to  accom- 
plish it,  and,  when  refused  by  one  governor,  sought  it  from  his 
successors.  And  as  he  would  not  yield  his  design,  nor  they 
consent  to  pay  salary,  they  were  all  put  under  censiu-e.  And 
then  the  greatest  portion  of  them,  with  their  families,  forsook 
public  worship,  and  this  lasted  two  months.  We  expect  nothing 
better  in  all  the  congregations  where  they  get  the  control." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Conferentie  of  June,  1764,  we 
have  the  following  passage: 

"  Tappan.— Cornelius  Abraham  Haring,  representing  thirty- 
nine  famihes  of  the  congregation  of  Tappan,  presented  several 
charges  against  the  minister,  Samuel  Verbryck,  both  in  doc- 
trine and  life.  They  had  desired  him  to  resign,  otherwise  they 
would  withdraw  their  obhgation  for  his  salary;  whereupon  he 
put  them  all  under  censure  and  excluded  them  from  the  Lord's 
table,  and  they  still  remain  in  that  state,  without  any  care  being 
taken  of  them,  although  they  are  members  of  his  congregation, 
wherefore  they  request  to  be  released  from  such  a  minister.  It 
was  resolved  to  present  their  case  to  the  Rev.  Classis,  and  urge 
it  \vith  strong  arguments." 

AVitli  the  resolution  thus  recorded  is  given  upon  the 
book  what  they  did  actually  send  to  the  Classis  of  Amster- 
dam. Their  letter  quotes  from  their  minutes  and  then 
presents  their  "strong  arguments."  We  cite  from  it  as 
follows: 


54  PASTORATE   OF   REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

"  Article  III.  relates  the  sad  condition  of  the  congregation  of 
Tappan,  which  at  different  times  has  been  brought  before  the 
Rev.  Classis,  and  which  we  have  promised  to  urge  in  serious 
terms. 

"  The  dispute  is  principally  about  some  silly  speeches  of  the 
minister  from  the  pulpit,  as  for  example:  The  forms  of  prayer 
must  be  cast  away,  and  we  must  pray  by  the  Spirit.  Those 
who  attend  church  in  the  forenoon,  and  not  in  the  afternoon, 
are  on  the  direct  road  to  hell,  etc.  Although  he  is  bound  by 
the  terms  of  his  call  to  preach  on  the  festival  days,  he  does  not 
refrain  from  deriding  the  custom,  as  when  once  ofl&ciating  on 
Paas-day  [Easter]  he  preached  upon  the  Crucifixion.  Besides 
he,  along  with  other  ministers,  desired  a  charter  for  an  academy 
from  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  although  he  lives  under  the 
government  of  New  York.  These  things  greatly  excited  the 
congregation.  Yet  each  held  firmly  to  his  own  way,  the  minis- 
ter deeming  himself  more  bound  to  maintain  his  fancy  of  having 
an  academy  or  a  Classis  than  to  feed  the  souls  entrusted  to 
him,  and  the  congregation  thinking  that  they  were  not  bound 
to  a  minister  who  was  not  willing  to  abide  by  what  had  always 
been  taught  and  practised,  nor  to  unite  with  us  who  maintain 
due  subordination.  Therefore  we  hope  the  Classis  will  issue 
the  case,  for  the  relief  of  these  long-oppressed  heads  of  families. 
And  since  this  matter  is  that  which  is  so  sadly  disputed  in  the 
congregations  of  New  Jersey  and  those  adjoining,  we  cannot 
omit  mentioning  that,  notwithstanding  two  governors  have 
refused  their  request,  they  mean  to  try  it  with  the  third;  whence 
men  justly  expect  that  if  it  is  granted  they  must  contribute  to 
the  erection  of  such  a  school,  and  that  in  order  to  increase  the 
number  of  that  kind  of  ministers." 

In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Conferentie  of  October,  1765, 
is  the  following  passage: 

"  Tappan  and  Domine  Verbryck. — The  case  of  Tappan,  with 
the  complaint  against  Domine  Verbryck,  was  taken  up,  and 
the  Assembly  saw  fit  to  appoint  a  committee  of  inquiry,  con- 
sisting of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Ritzema,  Schuyler,  and  De  Ronde, 
with  instructions  to  settle  the  matter  if  it  were  possible." 

The  letter  to  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  sent  as  a  sequel 
of  this  session,  bears  date  October  22,  1765.     It  says: 


CONFERENTIE  PAPERS.  55 

"  We  take  the  liberty  to  send  you  the  original  replies  of  Messrs. 
Verbryck  and  Meyer,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  letter  written 
to  the  latter.  These  replies  reveal  very  plainly  the  spirit  of  in- 
dependency, and  we  think  the  brethren  would  not  have  written 
them  had  they  not  been  induced  by  others.  The  letter  of 
Domine  Verbryck  is  not  necessary  to  be  forwarded  to  you,  as 
it  contains  only  the  notice  of  an  appointment  for  a  meeting. 

'*  If  ve  are  to  continue  thus  with  our  hands  bound,  and  see  our 
friends  [thej^  mean  such  as  those  claiming  to  be  aggrieved  by 
Domine  Verbryck  at  Tappan]  groaning  under  the  yoke  of  their 
oppressors,  we  see  no  other  resort  than  to  request  the  protection 
of  our  King  [they  mean,  of  course,  the  King  of  Great  Britain] . 
We  propose  it  for  your  [the  Classis']  consideration  whether  it 
is  not  necessary  to  obtain  through  the  Lords  Commissary  in  the 
Synod  [i.e.,  the  Synod  of  North  Holland]  that  the  Ambassadors 
of  the  States  General  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain  may  be 
commissioned  to  represent  that  the  ISTetherland  churches  in 
North  America  are  oppressed  in  their  privileges  and  liberties 
by  a  band  of  ministers  who,  through  a  spirit  of  independency, 
have  torn  them  awa}^  from  the  Netherland  Church,  and  cast  off 
their  relations  to  that  Church  in  the  face  of  their  own  subscrip- 
tion at  the  beginning  of  their  ministry.  That  such  a  request 
would  be  listened  to  by  the  King  we  feel  assured,  because  our 
Netherlandish  Church  has  always  been  regarded  by  the  Episco- 
palians as  a  national  church,  and  for  that  reason  held  in  esteem, 
and  because  the  kings  have  always  provided  our  churches  with 
charters,  not  only  to  manage  their  affairs  according  to  the 
Netherlandish  constitution  established  in  the  Synod  of  Dort, 
but  also  as  a  body  corporate,  to  have  and  to  hold,  etc.,  the 
property  belonging  thereto,  which  is  denied  to  all  other  churches, 
as  it  is  not  necessary  for  us  now  to  show,  it  being  sufficiently 
evident, 

"We  do  not  mean,  however,  to  do  any  harm  spiritually  or 
temporally  to  these  persons.  Our  only  aim  is  that  they  shall 
not  trouble  us,  nor  disturb  our  churches  subject  to  the  Sj'nod 
of  Dort  and  to  the  decrees  of  Classis  and  Synod.  If  they  trans- 
gress the  old  bounds,  we  do  not  at  all  desire  their  ruin.  They 
may  be  independent  if  they  will,  if  only  they  Avill  not  oppress 
us  (who  seek  to  carry  out  our  church  order  among  our  own 
people),  as  was  experienced  in  a  shameful  manner  by  Domine 
Kock  at  Kingston.     And  then  they  always  have  at  hand  a  text 


56  PASTORATE   OF  REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

picked  out  of  the  Bible,  or  a  sentence  out  of  the  church  order, 
according  to  their  own  arbitrary  whims.  And  the  unfair  use 
of  these  passages,  torn  from  their  connection,  keeps  us  in  a  con- 
tinued agitation,  when  otherwise  we  could  labor  to  the  use  and 
satisfaction  of  God's  people.  As  for  their  congregations,  we 
will  cut  off  whosoever  of  ours  undertakes  anything  to  their 
detriment.  But  must  ours  be  oppressed  by  their  ministers,  who 
claim  to  have  the  only  right  over  them  ? 

"  Further,  from  our  hearts  we  thank  you  for  your  acceptable 
care  and  pains  for  us,  and  pray  you  to  continue  in  the  same,  for 
we  are  made  the  derision  of  our  foes  and  our  labors  in  the  Lord 
are  rendered  fruitless,  etc."' 

So  the  ministers  of  the  Conf erentie  felt  in  regard  to  their 
brethren,  the  progressives  of  the  Coetus  party.  Yet  the 
Coetus  was  plainly  advancing  along  the  only  line  of  hope 
for  the  American  Church,  and  the  success  of  its  plans  and 
projects  was  now  (in  1765)  close  at  hand.  The  enlightened 
pastor  of  the  Tappan  church,  notwithstanding  the  opposi- 
tion of  some  of  his  families,  was  one  of  the  very  foremost 
leaders  of  the  party  of  progress,  and  he  was  destined  to  see 
his  views  very  soon  carried  out.  The  very  next  year  (1T66) 
the  charter  for  the  "  Academy,"  as  it  was  called  (the  char- 
ter on  which  Eutgers  College  rests  to-day),  was  secured, 
and  Domine  Verbryck,  who  had  worked  untiringly  for  it, 
was  appointed  one  of  its  first  trustees.  We  are  extremely 
fortunate  in  having  preserved  to  us  the  minutes  of  two 
more  meetings  of  the  Conferentie  that  followed  the  one 
just  quoted,  one  in  May  and  the  other  in  October  of  1767. 
These  throw  all  needed  light  on  the  formation  of  the 
schismatic  congregation  at  Tappan.  I  will  give  what  is 
essential  from  these  minutes.  A  reader  not  knowing  the 
facts  might  infer  from  it  that  the  regular  church  at  Tap- 
pan  had  been  temporarily  broken  up,  that  it  had  for  a 
time  no  Consistory,  and  that  the  Conferentie  had  been 
asked  to  install  one.  But  the  facts  were  far  otherwise. 
The  appeal  presented  in  these  minutes  is  not  from  the 
regular  church  at  all,  but  from  the  schismatic  party  desir- 
ing to  be  organized.  Let  this  be  remembered  by  all  who 
read  the  two  extracts  now  to  follow. 


CONFERENTIE   PAPERS.  57 

With  the  Proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  the  Conferentie 
held  in  New  York  in  May,  1767,  we  have  the  following, 
the  first  of  our  two  extracts,  in  the  letter  to  the  Classis  of 
Amsterdam  : 

"  The  Assembly  of  Ministers  and  Elders  under  the  Rev. 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  convened  in  New  York,  May  6,  1767, 
learne(>  that  there  was  among  the  brethren  who  call  themselves 
the  Coetus,  some  movement  toward  a  union  with  us — a  matter 
which  was  a  source  of  joy,  yet  awakened  some  anxiety  as  to 
the  way  and  manner  in  which^this  desirable  end  was  to  be 
reached.  To  make  a  proposal  on  this  subject,  brethren,  has  so 
many  difficulties  in  itself  that  even  the  least  objectionable  one 
may  subvert  the  desired  object,  for  which  reason  we  have  noted 
only  this  as  what  we  desire  : 

"1.  The  brethren  shall  firmly  hold  with  us  subordination  to 
the  Rev.  Classis  according  to  the  Synodical  decree  of  17G3. 

' '  2.  No  ministers  or  elders  shall  be  present  in  the  Assembly 
except  such  as  have  what  we  deem  a  lawful  commission — that 
is,  have  been  sent  by  the  Rev.  Classis,  or  ordained  here  by  their 
order,  or  recognized  on  their  recommendation  or  that  of  some 
other  Classis  in  the  Netherlands. 

"3.  The  question  how  the  ministers  otherwise  ordained  are 
to  be  treated  we  shall  arrange  to  our  mutual  satisfaction. 

"  4.  As  to  the  ordination  of  others,  that  stumbling  block  will 
be  taken  out  of  the  way  if  we  fall  upon  fit  subjects  and  pro- 
vide the  means  of  a  suitable  education. 

"  If  these  things  are  acceptable  to  the  brethren,  it  is  our  unani- 
mous desire  that  a  meeting  should  be  appointed  for  the  ensuing 
autumn,  say  the  first  Tuesday  in  October,  which  every  one,  if 
alive  and  well,  shall  attend. 

' '  Since  this  proposal  demands  that  everything  which  in  the 
least  burdens  peace  shall  cease,  we  promise  that  we  will  not  in- 
stall a  Consistory  at  Tappan  or  call  a  minister  there,  on  condi- 
tion that  you  will  not  introduce  a  minister  at  Harlem  or  Graves- 
end,  or  anywhere  else." 

And  now  we  come  to  the  last  meeting  of  the  Conferentie 
whose  papers  have  been  preserved  to  us.  These  contain 
our  last  extracts.  The  meeting  was  held  in  New  York  in 
October,  1767.     I  give,  first,  a  passage  from  its  minutes, 


58  PASTORATE   OF   REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

and,  lastly,  a  most  important  passage  from  its  letter  to  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam. 
From  its  minutes  we  have  the  following  : 

"  Tappaii. — A  deputation  from  Tappan  earnestly  besought 
the  Assembly  to  come  to  their  help  in  their  sad  condition,  and 
provide  them  with  a  Consistory  so  that  they  could  call  a  min- 
ister. The  Assembly,  after  mature  deliberation,  deemed  it  best 
(although  Domine  Verbryck  had  refused  to  appear  before  the 
last  committee  appointed  by  this  body  to  inquire  into  the  sad 
division)  to  institute  a  new  committee — viz. ,  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Rubel  and  Blaeuw,  the  latter  assuming  the  duty  as  neighbor- 
ing minister — once  more  to  do  their  utmost  to  bring  together 
the  divided  congregation.  They  are  to  inquire  into  matters, 
and,  if  possible,  to  prevent  the  choosing  of  a  Consistory.  But 
in  case  Domine  Verbryck  and  his  friends  refuse  to  appear  or 
to  listen  to  their  counsel,  they  are  to  proceed  in  the  use  of  all 
such  means  as  are  consistent  with  the  church  order,  and  to  ap- 
point a  Consistory." 

The  letter  is  long,  but  its  interest  is  surpassing.  It  is 
dated  October  Y.  It  presents  with  much  fulness  the  Con- 
f  erentie's  view  of  the  condition  of  the  times.  It  is  written 
in  the  very  year  in  which  the  records  of  the  schismatic 
church  begin,  and  gives  the  very  steps  which  connect  with 
the  starting  of  that  church,  as  akeady  described.  It  is 
as  f oUows  : 

"  As  for  ourselves,  we  have  reason  to  take  blame  for  not  hav- 
ing, in  the  proper  manner,  made  report  to  you  of  our  doings. 
Yet  this  has  not  been  owing  to  neglect,  but  to  a  negotiation  with 
the  Coetus  brethren,  the  issue  of  which  we  greatly  desired  to 
see.  This  we  at  one  time  expected  to  yield  a  good  result,  but 
now  it  has  all  blown  away. 

"  Of  this  we  are  bound  to  give  you  further  information.  On 
the  5th  of  last  May  we  held  an  Assembly  of  Ministers  and  Eld- 
ers in  New  York,  at  which  we  determined  to  send  the  follow- 
ing Articles  to  the  Coetus,  that  a  union  might  be  formed  upon 
them  [the  Articles  meant  I  have  already  given  above].  To 
these  we  received  the  following  reply  [here  in  the  letter  we 
have  :  *  See  the  original  message  among  the  papers. '  But 
unfortunately  this  has  not  been  preserved].     The  reply  we  com- 


CONFERENTIE   PAPERS.  59 

mend  to  the  judgment  of  the  Rev.  Classis.  It  is  considered 
by  us  to  have  no  other  aim  than  to  set  going  a  new  cause  of 
strife,  without  any,  even  the  least,  fruit.  And  we  have  heard 
nothing  further  from  them. 

"  As  to  the  last  letter  sent  us  by  you,  we  must  say  that  it  seems 
strange  that  it  makes  not  the  least  mention  of  the  calls  which 
we  sent  over  to  you,  and  which  we  conclude  are  now  in  your 
hands*  and  j^et  the  congregations  are  pining  to  see  their  teach- 
ers. 

"  If  we  are  to  conclude  that  the  condition  of  the  Kingston  con- 
gregation made  you  keep  silent^bout  sending  a  minister  there, 
because  the  place  is  not  actually  vacant,  the  reason  will  not 
apply  to  North  Branch,  where  the  people  had  in  the  first  place 
called  Domine  Fryenmoet,  and  had  taken  no  part  in  the  calling 
of  Hardenbergh.  Now  to  constrain  those  people  either  to  be 
without  Gospel  ordinances,  or  else  to  come  under  Hardenbergh, 
who  is  a  Coetus  man,  while  they  are  for  subordination,  how 
can  that  consist  with  the  welfare  of  our  Church  ?  The  Rhine- 
beck  Flats  and  Red  Hook  are  entirely  released  from  Hoven- 
berg.  Indeed,  the  latter  has  never  had  anj'thing  to  do  with 
him,  except  that  he  has  once  preached  there.  If  our  churches 
are  to  be  upheld  we  must  have  suitable  ministers  from  the  fath- 
erland. And  here  we  appeal  to  the  judgment  of  the  Sj^nod  of 
North  Holland  in  the  Pennsylvania  case  of  the  year  1766,  now 
lying  before  us.  As  to  the  congregation  of  Kingston,  the  state 
of  things  is  such  that  although  Domine  Meyer  is  not  removed, 
yet  it  is  impossible  that  he  can  remain  there.  He  will  be  ex- 
cluded from  the  service  of  that  congregation  so  long  as  he  re- 
fuses to  be  subordinate.  We  are  also  assured  that  he  has 
received  a  call  elsewhere,  which  raises  the  difficulty  how  a 
minister  under  censure  can  receive  clear  papers. 

"  From  the  accompan5nng  minutes  you  will  be  able  to  see  who 
have  met  "vvith  us,  continuing  to  be  faithful,  not\vithstanding 
manifold  opposition,  in  their  adherence  to  the  churches  of  their 
fatherland.  Satisfied  ourselves  with  the  plan  of  getting  a  pro- 
fessor [of  theology]  in  our  academy,  we  perceive  nevertheless 
that  there  is  another  scheme  laid  in  regard  to  a  new  academy 
to  be  erected  in  New  Jersey,  by  which  a  student  is  to  be  sent 
hence  to  the  University  of  Utrecht,  where,  through  the  favor  of 
a  certain  professor  of  theology  and  some  others,  he  is  to  be 
received  and  study  four  years  and  then  come  back  as  profes- 


60  PASTORATE   OF  REV.    SAMUEL   VERBRYCK. 

sor  of  theology"  [this  refers  to  John  H.  Livingston,  who 
went  over  to  the  University  of  Utrecht  in  1767,  came  back  in 
1770,  became  the  great  peacemaker  in  the  Church,  and  was  soon 
after  appointed  its  first  professor  of  theology]. 

"  This  is  a  matter  which  we  must  commit  to  the  Rev.  Clas- 
sis,  to  see  that  no  theological  faculty  or  any  Classis  under- 
takes the  management  of  the  New  Netherland  churches,  which 
has  been  entrusted  by  so  many  decrees  of  Synods,  and  still  is 
daily,  to  the  care  of  the  Rev   Classis  of  Amsterdam. 

"  You  will  observe  in  our  minutes  that  in  the  matter  of  Tap- 
pan,  Domine  Blaeuw,  who  was  one  of  the  committee  as  a 
neighboring  minister,  was  a  member  of  our  body,  although 
without  a  Consistory.  He  has,  however,  been  called  by  the 
congregations  of  Hackensack  and  Schraalenbergh,  and  as  such 
has  connected  himself  with  us,  giving  us  hope  that  his  new 
Consistory  and  congregation  will  with  himself  join  us  in  our 
next  meeting. 

"  Domine Westerlo  and  Domine  Boelen  still  remain  apart  with 
their  congregations.  The  latter  has  many  among  his  people 
who  would  cordially  unite  with  us,  and  if  the  minister  was  of 
one  mind  with  them  the  thing  could  easily  be  brought  about. 
We  therefore  desire  that  your  Rev.  Body  would  take  the 
trouble  to  stir  up  the  ministers  with  their  congregations  to  this 
end,  and  do  the  same  once  more  with  the  churches  of  New 
Jersey." 

Here  close  all  the  papers  of  the  Conferentie  that  have 
come  down  to  us.  In  this  last  long  extract,  embracing  al- 
most the  whole  of  its  latest  preserved  letter,  though  there 
are  some  references  to  acts  and  papers  that  have  been  lost, 
we  have  abundance  of  clear  light  upon  the  condition  of  the 
American  Church.     It  shows  the  following  things  : 

1.  The  Conferentie  party  was  clinging  with  desperation 
to  an  inevitably  waning,  in  fact,  at  this  very  moment,  an 
expiring  cause.  It  was  now  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine 
years  since  (in  1628)  the  Reformed  Church  had  been  organ- 
ized on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  stiU  the  Church  was 
trammelled  with  dependency  upon  the  Holland  Synod  and 
Classis.  The  Coetus  party,  which  sought  deliverance  from 
this  subserviency  with  its  inconveniences  and  its  dangers 
(more  than  one  young  man  sent  to  Holland  to  study  had 


CONDITION   OF  THE  AMERICAN  CHURCH.  61 

been  lost  at  sea),  was  now  rapidly  approaching  its  complete 
triumph.  It  was  but  four  years  distant.  The  party  was 
entreating  the  Conferentie  to  accept  the  demands  of  the 
times  and  join  in  effort  to  Americanize  the  Church  and 
equip  it  with  a  home  institution  for  the  preparation  of  min- 
isters for  its  pulpits.  The  Conferentie  listened  to  it  so  far 
as  to^express  a  hope  that  peace  might  come,  but  ever  in- 
sisted upon  throwing  in  its  way  conditions  not  to  be 
thought  of  for  a  moment.  These  conditions  w^ere  that  the 
Coetus  should  drop  all  progressive  ideas  and  consent  to  give 
up  all  that  had  been  gained  and  all  that  the  American 
condition  made  imperative.  This  singularly  blind  spirit 
appears  abundantly  from  these  last  quotations. 

2.  These  extracts  show  that  there  had  been  open  schisms 
in  some  of  the  congregations,  that  of  Tappan  included. 
Domine  Verbryck  was  all  this  time  pastor  of  the  Tappan 
church,  and  had  all  this  time  his  own  Consistory.  He 
never  knew  a  suspension  of  his  church's  organization  for 
one  moment  from  his  settlement  in  1750  to  his  death  in 
1784.  The  church  referred  to  as  being  without  a  Consis- 
tory, and  desiring  to  have  one  formed  that  it  might  call  a 
pastor,  was  the  schismatic  company  wiiich  sprang  up  in 
this  very  year  (1767)  and  lasted  till  1778.  There  were  later 
meetings  of  the  Conferentie,  and,  of  course,  later  minutes 
of  that  body,  which,  if  they  had  been  preserved,  would 
give  us  its  action  in  really  organizing  this  irregular  con- 
gregation. Of  course,  however,  to  us  the  Record  Book  of 
the  organization  itself,  fortunately  in  our  hands,  suppKes 
the  defect  and  gives  us  all  we  need  to  make  our  history 
complete.  No  doubt  other  bodies  besides  those  of  Kakiat 
and  Tappan  were  organized  by  the  Conferentie.  What 
they  did  at  Tappan  is  a  sample  of  their  work,  which  they 
carried  out  wherever  they  had  their  way. 

3.  These  extracts  show  that,  just  at  the  point  w^here  the 
minutes  of  the  Conferentie  fail  to  us,  the  party  was  putting 
this  new  Tappan  organization  into  the  charge  of  Domine 
Blaeuw,  who  lived  not  far  away,  and  was  himself  at  the 
moment  without  a  Consistory  {i.e.,  without  a  pastoral 
charge),  but  had  just  been  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 


63        PASTORATE  OF  REV.  SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

Hackensack  and  Schraalenbergh  congregations,  which  he 
really  held  from  1768  to  1771.  Domine  Blaeuw  was  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  Conf erentie,  and  ready  to  do  anything  for  it 
against  Domine  Verbryck,  and  anything  to  help  on  the  fam- 
ilies in  his  church  who  were  opposed  to  the  views  and  course 
of  their  pastor  and  to  the  ends  and  aims  of  the  Coetus.  The 
real  inspirer  of  the  Tappan  schism,  however,  was  Domine 
Muzelius,  who  lived  in  the  village  and  had  the  opportunity, 
as  he  had  the  will,  to  order  and  direct  every  movement  in 
the  plot.  He  began  by  baptizing  children  for  the  malcon- 
tents on  his  own  responsibility  and  starting  a  separate 
record  of  baptisms.  He  baptized  four  children  in  July  and 
August,  1767,  and  started  his  record  with  their  names.  In 
September  Domine  Blaeuw  appeared  upon  the  scene.  He 
was  never  pastor  of  the  church.  It  never  had  a  really 
installed  pastor.  But  he  was  in  charge  for  a  time  under 
the  direction  of  the  Conferentie.  He  baptized  28  chil- 
dren for  its  members  and  friends  between  September, 
1767,  and  October,  1769.  At  this  last  date  the  Coetus 
was  fairly  in  sight  of  its  great  triumph.  The  spirit  of 
prayer  and  longing  for  peace  was  rising  all  around.  Schis- 
matic parties  were  weakening.  If  Muzelius  had  not  been 
on  the  ground  at  Tappan  its  schism  would  have  died  out 
by  1771.  But  he  kept  it  alive  seven  years  more.  The 
baptismal  record,  more  strongly  than  any  other  part  of 
the  book,  makes  this  clear.  The  entire  number  of  entries 
of  baptisms  from  July  12,  1767,  to  June  14,  1778,  is  164. 
The  officiating  minister  is  given  with  130  of  them. 
Domine  Muzelius  performed  60,  Domine  Kuyper  29,  Do- 
mine Blaeuw  28,  Domine  Rubel  9,  Domine  Boelen  2,  and 
Domine  Rysdyk  2.  The  first  three  of  these  men  were  the 
leading  spirits  of  the  movement.'  During  the  last  year 
and  a  half  Muzelius  stood  alone.  Every  baptism  is  re- 
corded with  his  name  as  the  officiant.     The  organization 

'  Domines  Kuyper  (or  Kuypers)  and  Rysdyk  were  men  of  excellent 
character,  in  these  matters  simply  misled.  Domine  Blaeuw  was  a 
troublesome  meddler.  Domine  Boelen  was  not  pi'ominent  with  the 
Tappan  movement.  Domine  Rubel  turned  out  quite  disgracefully  (see 
Minutes  of  General  Synod,  Introductory  Volume,  pp.  108,  109). 


THE   AMERICAN   REVOLUTION.  63 

gave  out  with  his  faihng  strength.  He  was  74  years  of 
age  when  it  collapsed  in  1778.  Four  years  later,  as  I 
have  shown,  he  died,  in  April,  1782. 

We  must  now  pass  to  another  great  trial  of  Domine  Ver- 
bryck's  pastoral  period.  Shadowed  as  it  had  been  from  its 
beginning  by  the  active  hostihty  of  Muzelius,  it  passed 
during  its  later  years  under  a  strain  which  may  have  been 
even  far  more  severe.  The  American  Revolution  broke 
out  in  1775,  and  did  not  spend  itself  till  1783,  within  a  few 
mouths  only  of  the  Doniine's  death.  Till  the  war  began 
he  had  lived  in  the  parsonage,  the  same  building  which 
had  been  built  for  Muzelius,  probably  soon  after  1729,  and 
which,  with  an  addition  on  the  north  in  1835  and  other 
and  important  internal  improvements  made  at  various 
dates  since,  is  still  in  possession  of  the  church.  But  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  as  a  measure  of  safety,  he  removed 
to  Clarkstown,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days,  except 
his  last  year,  which  he  passed  at  Pollifly  on  his  wife's 
farm.  In  177-1,  when  the  excitement  that  culminated  in 
the  war  was  running  high,  the  Court  House  on  the  Green, 
at  the  side  of  the  church,  was  burned.  Tradition  says  the 
burning  was  not  accidental.  It  was  in  the  charge  of,  and 
was  in  part  occupied  as  a  residence  by,  Ebenezer  Wood, 
the  maternal  grandfather  of  Anna  Maria  Shatzel,  wife  of 
the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole,  a  later  pastor  of  the  Tappan 
church.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  the  county  for  a  half- 
century,  a  devotee  of  the  American  cause,  and  an  exaltedly 
incorruptible  patriot.  The  burning  of  the  Court  House  is 
traditionally  charged  to  his  enemies.  He  lost  all  he  had 
by  the  fire.  The  old  brick  and  stone  house  already  spoken 
of,  built  in  1700  and  still  standing,  was  honored  during  the 
war,  as  already  stated,  by  becoming  the  place  of  sojourn 
on  several  occasions  of  General  Washington.  The  country 
all  around  in  Rockland  (then  part  of  Orange)  and  Bergen 
counties  was  demoralized  by  raids  and  devastations.  Es- 
pecially was  this  period  memorable  at  Tappan  for  con- 
nection ^vith  the  confinement,  trial,  and  execution  of 
Major  John  Andre  of  the  British  army.  He  was  confined 
in  the  old  '76  Stone  House,  built  in  1755  and  still  standing, 


64  PASTORATE   OF   REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

though  as  a  ruin.  He  was  tried  in  the  church  (the  first 
edifice,  built  in  1716),  and  was  executed  on  a  high  elevation 
to  the  west  of  the  village.'  We  do  not  need  here  to  speak 
at  any  length  of  the  war  period,  but  it  must  have  tested 
the  ministerial  character  and  the  personal  heroism  of 
Domine  Verbryck  to  the  utmost.  I  have  said  that  at 
the  beginning  of  the  outbreak  he  lived  in  the  Tappan  par- 
sonage. He  had  four  sons,  Bernardus,  Hendrick  Van  Der 
Linde,  Samuel  Gerritsen,  and  Roelof.  These  sons  had 
cultivated  the  parsonage  glebe.  On  the  28th  of  June,  17Y8, 
during  the  war,  Hendrick  married  Antje  Johnson  at  Pas- 
saic. His  brother,  Samuel  Gerritsen,  in  1YT7,  when  16 
years  old,  engaged  among  volunteers  for  a  brief  special 
duty.  Then  he  went  to  Pollifly  (Pulavly)  to  work  on  the 
farm  of  his  Van  Der  Linde  grandparents.  Three  days 
after  reaching  there  he  was  arrested  by  the  regulars  and 
taken  to  New  York,  where  he  was  confined  in  the  "  Debt- 
ors' Jail."  He  was  offered  release  if  he  would  take  an 
oath  of  allegiance,  but  he  refused.  Becoming  very  ill  and 
emaciated,  he  was  removed  from  the  jail  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  his  friends,  that  they  might  be  permitted  to  take 
care  of  him.  But  he  was  not  exchanged  till  he  had  been 
a  captive  three  years  and  three  months.  Then  he  returned 
to  his  home,  but  soon  after  he  enlisted  in  the  American 
army  and  became  an  officer  in  the  Hackensack  Company 
under  Captain  Ward.  During  the  earlier  days  of  his  im- 
prisonment  Domine  Verbryck  used  to  ride  down  from 

1  Andre  was  executed  upon  a  gallows,  October  2,  1780.  A  summer 
book  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad  says  "  This  is  an  error,"  and  affirms 
that  throug-li  the  magnanimity  of  General  Washington  he  was  ' '  shot 
as  a  soldier,  and  not  hanged  as  a  spy."  But  I  myself  have  seen  people 
who  saw  him  hanged.  A  full  description  of  the  hanging,  from  Dr. 
Thatcher,  an  eye-witness,  is  given  in  Beers  &  Co.'s  "Rockland 
County  History,"  pp.  71,  72. 

The  remains  of  Andre  lay  undisturbed  in  the  grave  near  the  scaf- 
fold till  the  15tli  of  August,  1821,  when,  under  a  British  commission, 
they  were  exhumed  and  removed  to  England.  They  were  interred 
in  Westminster  Abbey  on  the  28th  of  November  following.  The 
account  of  these  transactions  is  well  given  in  the  same  "History," 
pp.  74-76. 


SAMUEL  GERRITSEN  VERBRYCK.  65 

Clarkstown  to  see  his  boys.  In  one  of  his  rides  he  very 
narrowly  escaped  being  taken  and  imprisoned,  through  a 
warning  by  a  slave.  In  August,  17S1,  as  will  be  seen  be- 
low, the  son,  Samuel  Gerritsen,  married  and  settled  on 
what  has  ever  since  been  known  as  the  Verbryck  family 
residence  on  the  road  to  Piermont.  Soon  after  the  close 
of  the^war  Domine  Verbryck  was  taken  suddenly  ill  at 
this  son's  house  on  a  Sabbath  day  as  his  congregation  was 
just  gathering  to  hear  him  preach  in  the  church.  He  died 
on  the  31st  of  January,  1784. ' 

AH  his  four  sons  named  aSove  continued  to  hve  on  a 
long  way  into  the  present  century.  Many  persons  yet 
living  knew  all  of  them  well.  Samuel  Gerritsen  (familiarly 
known  as  Samuel  G.),  born  March  15,  1Y61,  hved  till  Octo- 
ber 3, 1849,  dying  at  last  at  over  88  years  of  age.  He  was  for 
forty  years — from  1796  down  to  the  dedication  of  the  pre- 
sent church  building  (1836)— clerk  and  chorister  of  the 
church.  His  services  in  reading  and  singing  were  all  in 
the  Dutch  language.  He  was  a  man  of  exalted  piety. 
He  outlived  most  of  the  local  people  of  the  war  period,  and 
in  his  extreme  old  age  was  an  exceptionally  interesting 
man.  Retaining  in  a  good  degree  his  memory,  and  full  of 
reminiscences  of  the  war,  he  was  a  great  attraction,  to 
young  people  especially,  who  never  tired  of  listening  to 
him  as  he  told  of  General  Washington's  sojourns  at  Tappan, 
of  Major  Andre's  unhappy  end,  and  of  the  various  thrilling 
incidents  which  occurred  a  century  ago  on  this  old  historic 
ground. 

I  regret  more  than  words  can  express  that  I  am  unable 
to  speak  of  Domine  Verbryck  as  a  preacher  from  any  per- 
sonal hearsay.  Every  reference  made  to  him  in  my  boy- 
hood hearing  was  to  his  character  and  courage  as  a  man 
for  his  remarkable  times.  His  excellent  judgment  and  his 
great  success  in  holding  and  building  up  his  church  against 
the  plotting  and  the  open  and  organized  opposition  of  Mu- 
zelius,  his  great  efficiency  in  conceiving  and  bringing  about 

'  His  will,  drawn  up  by  his  friend  Mr.  John  Haring,  January  30, 
1784,  the  day  before  his  death,  is  published  in  Beers  &  Co.'s  "History," 
pp.  231,  232. 
6 


66  PASTORATE  OF  REV.    SAMUEL  VERBRYCK. 

the  establishment  of  Queens  (now  Rutgers)  College,  and  his 
heroic  conduct  during  the  war — these  filled  all  the  talk  I 
ever  heard  about  him.  No  allusion  was  ever  made  to  his 
preaching.  My  citations  from  the  minutes  of  the  Coetus 
and  Conferentie,  however,  furnish  abundant  ground  for 
believing  that  in  the  pulpit  he  was  scholarly,  evangelical, 
earnest,  and  fearless.  They  also  reveal  that,  while  he  was 
true  to  the  church,  he  was  stronger  than  mere  forms  and 
usages.  He  was  in  every  respect  ahead  of  his  times,  and  a 
born  leader.  He  had  strong  men  and  women  in  his  church, 
who  kept  up  with  him  and  finally  shared  in  his  triumphs. 
But  he  had  left  some  people  of  different  stamp  far  behind 
him  when  he  reached  the  famous  goal  of  1Y71. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  secular  business  transactions, 
outside  of  ordinary  routine,  were  numerous  during  the 
pastorate  of  Domine  Verbryck.  The  church  was  absorbed 
with  the  matters  of  the  time.  Among  its  papers  still  pre- 
served are  numerous  communications  from  the  Coetus, 
signed  by  noted  ministers,  and  of  considerable  interest  to 
the  antiquarian.  There  are  two  or  three  papers  written  by 
Muzelius  upon  the  arrangements  made  for  his  support.  In 
one,  dated  October  11,  1Y53,  he  binds  himself  legally,  in  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  pounds,  not  to  preach  or  perform  any 
ministerial  acts  publicly  or  privately  in  Reformed  Dutch 
congregations  in  the  towns  of  Tappan  and  Kakiat ;  not 
to  foment  nor  encourage  schisms,  divisions,  or  dissensions 
among  the  people  of  the  said  congregations  ;  and  not  to 
refuse  or  neglect  to  deliver  up  to  the  Tappan  congregation 
the  house  and  glebe,  etc.,  etc.  This  paper  and  two  or 
three  others  from  which  I  might  quote  show  to  what 
lengths  the  difficulties  were  carried  to  which  they  allude. 

Among  the  treasures  of  the  Consistory's  archives  is  an 
unbound  book  of  accounts,  whose  dates  begin  with  172-1. 
It  describes  the  "  gestoelten  en  bancken"  (pews  and 
benches)  in  the  church,  and  gives  their  occupants.  The 
sides  of  the  house,  east  and  west,  were  devoted  to  the 
women.  The  middle  was  occupied  by  the  men.  There 
were  twenty  slips  in  each  of  the  galleries.  In  1753  Susanna 
Verbryck,  "  de  predikants  vrouw  "  (the  preacher's  wife),  sat 


BUSINESS  DURING  THE  VERBRYCK  PERIOD.  67 

*'inde  banck  achter  diaconen  "  (in  the  bench  behind  the 
deacons).  The  schoolmaster,  Hermanns  Van  Huysen, 
occupied  No.  13  in  the  east  gallery.  The  church  was  fully 
taken  up.  In  the  days  when  this  account  was  kept  it  had 
but  to  be  opened  to  be  sure  of  being  filled. 

In  1783  the  church  first  secured  incorporation.  As  its 
property  lay  both  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  it  had  to 
obtain  two  acts.  The  one  from  the  New  York  Legislature, 
referring  to  the  parsonage  glebe  of  fifty-five  acres  and 
its  buildings  and  appurtenances,  bears  date  February  25, 
1788.  It  provides,  in  the  usual  form,  that  the  "  ministers, 
elders,  and  deacons,"  and  their  successors  from  time  to 
time  elected,  "are  made  and  constituted  a  corporation  and 
body  pontic  in  law  and  fact,"  etc.,  etc.  It  is  curious  that 
from  this  time  forward  to  November,  1792,  the  officers  in 
their  minutes  seem  wholly  to  forget  the  word  "Consis- 
tory," and  always  call  themselves  "  The  Corporation."  At 
this  last-named  date,  however,  this  title  is  dropped,  and 
the  old  name  "  The  Consistory  "  returns  to  its  former  and 
usual  place. 

In  this  connection,  though  the  event  falls  within  the  next 
pastor's  period,  I  add  that  on  the  9th  of  September,  1788, 
a  similar  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  by  the  New  Jer- 
sey Legislature  to  cover  the  forty-two  acres  of  land  lying 
within  that  State.  The  New  York  act  is  recorded  on  the 
church  book,  but  the  New  Jersey  act  is  not.  It  was  at 
once  after  the  passage  of  the  New  York  act  that  the  seal 
was  devised  to  which  I  have  already  referred,  and  to  which 
we  of  to-day  are  indebted  for  the  only  original  representa- 
tion we  have  of  the  church  building  of  1716. 

I  close  the  period  of  Domine  Verbryck  with  a  statement 
in  regard  to  the  church  records.  The  baptismal  record  was 
kept  up  without  a  break.  The  baptisms  of  Domine  Bert- 
holf,  as  I  have  shown  (1691-1725),  were  465  in  number.  At 
the  end  of  Domine  Muzehus'  regular  pastorate  (1750)  the 
total  number  from  1694  had  reached  1,590.  At  the  end  of 
Domine  Verbryck's  fife  they  stood  at  2,763.  The  marriage 
record  remains  for  us  for  the  first  four  years  of  Domine 


68  CHURCH  RECORDS — THE   VERBRYCK  FAMILY. 

Verbryck  (September  23,  1Y50,  to  October  3,  1754).  Dur- 
ing these  years  93  marriages  were  added  to  the  roll.  From 
this  time  onward  through  this  pastorate  the  marriage 
record  fails.  The  member  roll  was  also  maintained  through 
the  first  four  years,  from  December  19,  1750,  to  July  4, 
1754.  For  the  rest  of  the  period  till  1784  it  also  wholly 
fails  (see  list  of  members  with  statement  in  our  Appen- 
dix), The  records  were  kept,  of  course,  but  on  papers 
which  have  been  lost.     This  is  all  we  can  say. 

To  the  account  thus  given  of  Domine  Verbryck  and  his 
period  I  add  a  table  of  his  family,  including  all  his  children 
and  aU  his  grandchildren.  Almost  all  of  them  are  taken 
from  the  old  record  book  at  Tappan.  The  rest  come  from 
the  printed  Hackensack  and  Schraalenbergh  records. 

The  lineage  and  marriage  of  the  parents,  Domine  Samuel 
V'^.xbryck  and  Susanna  Van  Der  Linde,  with  places  and  dates, 
have  been  already  given.  They  had  six  children,  all  born  and 
baptized  at  Tappan,  as  follows: 

1.  Ariaentje  Verbryck,  b.  July  18,  bapt.  July  28,  1751. 
Never  married. 

2.  Bernardus  Verbryck,  b.  March  1,  bapt.  March  11,  1753. 
Married  Maria  Beem  at  Pompton,  date  unknown.  Had  four 
children  (see  below). 

3.  Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde  Verbryck,  b.  January  4,  bapt. 
January  12,  1755.  Married  Antje  Janse  (Johnson)  at  Passaic, 
June  28,  1778.     Had  eight  children  (see  below). 

4.  Jannetje  Verbryck,  born  October  19,  bapt.  October  28, 
1759.     Died  in  childhood. 

5.  Samuel  Gerritsen  Verbryck,  b.  March  7,  bapt.  March  15, 
1761.  Married  Heyltje  (Helen)  Kemsen  at  PolHfly,  August  6, 
1781.     Had  nine  children  (see  below). 

6.  Roelof  Verbryck,  b.  February  25,  bapt.  March  9,  1766. 
Married  Maria  Haring,  February  18,  1793.  Had  six  children 
(see  below). 


VERBRYCK  DESCENDANTS.  69 

GRANDCHILDREN  AND   GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. 

1.  Children  of  Bernardus  Verbryck  and  Maria  Beem: 

Samuel  B.  Verbryck,  b.  March  29,  bapt.  May  29,  1785. 

Married  Abigail  Woolsey,   time  and  place  not  now 

known.     Had  sons,  Peter  and  Samuel. 
Joost  Verbryck,  b.  July  6,  bapt.  July  29,  1787.     Never 
n      married. 
John  Verbryck,  dates  unknown.     Never  married. 
Susanna  Verbryck,  b.  January  22,  bapt.  February  15, 

1789.     Married Beem.     Had  no  child. 

2.  Children  of  Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde  Verbryck  and  Antje 
Janse  (Johnson): 

Abraham  Verbryck,  b.  January  31,  bapt.  February  28, 
1779,  and  had  children,  Peter,  Mary  Ann,  Ellen,  daugh- 
ter (name  unknown),  and  William  A. 

Johannes  Verbryck,  b.  April  27,  bapt.  May  29,  1783. 
Never  married. 

Samuel  Verbryck,  dates  unknown.    Married Storms. 

Had  children,  Catharine  and  Mary  Ann. 

Hendrick  Van  Der  Linde  Verbryck,  Jr.,  b.  September 
6,  bapt.  October  2,  1785.  Nothing  more  kno\vn  about 
him  now. 

Lena  Verbryck,  b.  June  12,  bapt.  July  2,  1788.  Mar- 
ried James  Vanderhoof ,  and  had  children,  Harry,  John, 
and  Bogert. 

Benjamin  Van  Der  Linde  Verbryck,  b.  October  29,  bapt. 
November  2,  1792.  Married ,  and  had  a  son,  Ben- 
jamin. 

Maria  Verbryck,  b.  December  30,  1794,  bapt.  February 
1,  1795.  Married  Wilhelmus  Mabie,  and  had  children, 
Ann  and  John. 

Susanna  Verbryck,  b.  August  4,  bapt. ,  1797.  Mar- 
ried Edward  Larey. 

3.  Children  of  Samuel  Gerritsen  Verbryck  and  Heyltje  Rem- 
sen: 

Susanna  Verbryck,  b.  August  4,  bapt.  September  1, 
1782.  Married  Gerrit  Edwards  at  Tappan,  April  23, 
1799,  and  had  children,  Grietje,  Heyltje,  EHzabeth, 
Jane  Verbryck,  Eleanor,  James,  and  Samuel  Gerritsen. 


70  VERBRYCK  DESCENDANTS. 

Angenietje  (Agnes)  Verbryck,  b.  October  14,  bapt.  No- 
vember 13,  1785.  Married,  first,  Jeremiah  N.  Wil- 
liamson at  Tappan,  November  3,  1803,  and  had  two 
children,  Heyltje  and  Elizabeth;  second,  William  Stot- 
hoff  at  Bedford,  L.  I.,  June  2,  1821,  and  had  three 
children,  Phoebe,  Abraham,  and  Samuel  Gerritsen. 

Samuel  S.  Verbryck,  b.  September  30,  bapt.  October  25, 
1787.  Married  Maria  Mabee,  widow  of  David  Haring, 
at  Tappan,  December  24,  1814,  and  had  one  son,  David 
Haring  Verbryck. 

Remsen  Verbryck,  b.  September  4,  bapt.  October  2, 
1789.  Married  Elizabeth  Vervalen  at  Tappan,  July 
14,  1808,  and  had  one  son,  Samuel  Gerritsen. 

Jannetje  Verbryck,  b.  February  7,  bapt.  February  22, 
1792.  Married  Richard  Ellsworth  at  Tappan,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1813,  and  had  children,  Hester  Ann,  infant 
(name  not  now  known),  Samuel  G.,  Amelia,  Harriet, 
Ann  Haring,  Caroline,  Juliette,  Helen  Maria,  and 
Phoebe  Jane. 

Femmetje  (Phoebe)  Verbryck,  b.  March  13,  bapt.  April 
1,  1795.  Married  John  J.  Haring  at  Tappan,  Decem- 
ber 6,  1832.     No  children. 

Maria  Verbryck,  b.  June  17,  bapt.  July  8,  1798.  Mar- 
ried Samuel  Sneden  at  Tappan,  December  19,  1821, 
and  had  children,  Phoebe  Ann,  Susan,  Samuel  Gerrit- 
sen (died  young),  Garretson,  William,  Mary  Helen 
(died  young),  and  John. 

John  S.  Verbryck,  b.  July  19,  bapt.  August  12,  1801. 
Married  Eleanor  Vervalen  at  Tappan,  February  28, 
1824,  and  had  children,  Helen  Ann,  Benjamin  Kirby, 
and  Jane  Elizabeth. 

James  Verbryck,  b.  April  25,  bapt.  May  19,  1805.  Mar- 
ried Sarah  Ann  Outwater  at  Tappan,  June  14,  1838. 
One  child,  Helen  Elizabeth. 

4.  Children  of  Roelof  Verbryck  and  Maria  Haring: 

Samuel  R.  Verbryck,  b.  March  25,  bapt.  April  3,  1795. 
Married  Maria  Talman  at  Tappan,  April  17,  1813,  and 
had  children,  Mary  Ann  and  Cornelia. 
Abraham  Haring  Verbryck,  b.  October  2,  bapt.  Novem- 
ber 11,  1798.     Married  Annetje  Garretson  near  Para- 


VERBRTCK   DESCENDANTS.  71 

mus,  date  not  now  known,  and  had  children,  Ralph  (or 
Roelof),  Philander  Berkelow,  John,  James,  William, 
and  Maria.  Abraham  was  a  physician.  After  prac- 
tising for  a  time  at  the  East,  he  removed  to  Milwaukee 
in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  several  years  later  to  ChilU- 
cothe.  Mo.,  where  he  died  at  about  76  years  of  age. 

Margaret  Verbryck,  b.  about  1805.     Never  married. 

John  Verbryck,  b.  July  17,  bapt.  August  5, 1808.  Never 
married. 

Gerritsen  Verbryck,  b.  April  1,  bapt.  April  20,  1811. 
Married  in  Wisconsin  and  had  several  children.  Trace 
lost. 

Sarah  Verbryck,  b.  April  24,  bapt.  May  21,  1815.  Mar- 
ried Cornehus  Mabie  at  Tappan  in  1838,  and  had  chil- 
dren, Adolphus  C,  Alesta  Loretta,  Rachel  Sonora,  and 
John  William. 


REV.   NICHOLAS  LANSING. 
{Tliird  Pastor.) 

DATE   OP  CALL,  AUGUST  11,  1784 — INSTALLED  DECEMBER   5,    1784. 

The  Lansing  family  were  residents  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 
from  1650.  The  father  of  the  Domine  was  John  Jacob 
Lansing,  who  was  baptized  in  the  Reformed  Church  of 
Albany,  December  23,  1715,  and  died  April  19,  1808,*  at 
over  92  years  of  age.  His  mother  was  Catharina  Schuyler, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Schuyler  and  Elsie  Wendell.  She 
was  born  December,  1T23,  and  died  March  31,  1797,  aged 
73  years  and  7  months.  The  marriage  took  place  about 
1747.  She  was  the  third  wife,  the  first,  Rachel  Lievens, 
and  the  second,  Cathlyna  Van  Schaick,  having  left  no 
offspring.     Catharina  Schuyler  had  five  children  : 

Nicholas,  bapt.  September  11,  1748.  Married  Dorcas  Sarah 
Dickinson.  He  died  at  Tappan,  September  26,  1835.  The  in- 
scription on  his  tombstone  says  he  was  born  September  20, 1748. 
This  statement,  and  the  church  i*ecord  as  to  the  date  of  his 
baptism,  September  11,  do  not  agree.  The  birth  date,  Septem- 
ber 20,  was  given  by  the  Domine  himself  to  my  father,  who 

'  The  furthest  back  Lansing  ancestor  of  whom  we  now  have  knowl- 
edge was  Frederick  Lansing,  of  the  town  of  Hassel,  in  the  Province  of 
Overyssel,  Holland,  born  certainly  not  later  than  1600.  He  never 
came  to  America. 

The  first  American  ancestor  was  his  son,  Gerrit  Frederick  Lansing, 
who  settled  in  Albany  about  1650,  with  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  born  in  Hassel. 

Gerrit  Gerritsen  Lansing,  oldest  of  these  six  children,  married  Elsie, 
daughter  of  Wouter  Van  Wythorst,  and  had  nine  children. 

The  sixth  of  these  nine  children  (the  fifth  son)  was  Jacob  Gerritsen 
Lansing,  born  June  6,  1681.  He  married  Helena  Glen,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Sanders  Glen  and  Catharine  Van  Witbeck,  about  1710.  These 
were  the  parents  of  John  Jacob,  the  father  of  Domine  Lansing. 

\ 


\ 


JOHN    J.    LANSING 
f  Father  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Lansing) 

Baptized  December  l'3.  1715    Died  April  lit,  1'08 

From  an  original  portrait,  tak.-u  in  his  ninetieth  year,  ami  now  in  possession  of  children  of  his 
great  grandson,  the  late  Blarcena  M.  Dickinson,  of  Nyack,  N.  Y. 


LANSING   AND   DICKINSON   FAMILIES.  73 

prepared  the  inscription  for  the  stone.  Perhaps  the  Domine 
had  adapted  his  reckoning  to  the  New,  while  the  church  book 
statement  may  be  given  in  the  Old  Style. 

Lena  (Helena),  bapt.  November  4,  175(>.  She  m.,  first,  John 
Zabriskie,  January  11,  1776  ;  and  second,  Abraham  Oothout, 
November  14,  1787. 

Jacob  J.,  bapt.  August  19,  1753.  Married  Jannetje  Heyer 
about  1783,  and  had  one  child  only,  a  daughter.  A  picture  is 
herewith  given  of  this  entire  family. 

Philip,  bapt.  November  28,  1756. 

Elsie,  bapt.  July  15,  1759.  ^  Married  Charles  Dickinson. 
Both  of  these  and  two  of  their'children,  Cornelia  and  Catha- 
rine, died  in  the  membership  of  the  Tappan  church. 

John  J.  Lansing  and  his  family  lived  in  Albany,  on  the  west 
side  of  Broadway,  the  fourth  door  north  of  Maiden  Lane. 
They  were  connected  with  the  historic  Reformed  church  of  the 
city  under  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Eilardus  Westerlo  (1760-1790). 

The  Dickinson  family  has  been  noted  in  our  country  in 
church  and  state,  and  in  connection  with  education  and 
learning.  No  doubt  its  branches  are  all  from  a  common 
ancestor.  Its  genealogy  has  been  written  in  lines,  but 
not  exhaustively.  The  father  of  Dorcas  Sarah  Dickin- 
son (I  cannot  yet  trace  her  further  back)  was  Charles 
Dickinson,  Sr.,  of  New  York  City,  born  not  later  than 
1720,  at  one  time  a  city  alderman  from  the  Fifth  Ward. 
He  married,  at  least  as  early  as  1743,  Belitje  (Isabella), 
daughter  of  Cornells  Bogart  and  Cornelia  Van  Duyn, 
w4io  had  been  married  May  1,  1720.  Belitje  survived  her 
husband,  and  married,  second,  Eobert  Ray,  March  1,  1763. 

I  know  of  three  children  of  Charles  Dickinson,  Sr.,  and 
Belitje  Bogart.  One,  Cornelia,  is  given  on  the  New  York 
Church  Records  as  baptized  September  12,  1744.  Another, 
Charles,  Jr.,  I  knew  intimately  for  many  years.  He  was 
born  November  IS,  1752,  and  died  August,  1836.  The 
third  is  Dorcas  Sarah,  wife  of  Domine  Lansing. 

Charles  Dickinson,  Jr.,  and  his  wife,  Elsie  Lansing,  sis- 
ter of  the  Domine,  lived  in  New  York  City  when  I  first 
knew-  them.     They  removed  to  Tappan  about  1828,  and 


74  MR.    LANSING'S  CONVERSION. 

lived  there  till  they  died.  Mrs.  Dickinson's  death  occurred 
April  29,  1837.  They  were  people  of  superior  character  and 
of  baronial  manners,  and  were  highly  esteemed.  Their 
children  have  all  passed  away,  and  the  same  is  true  of  most 
of  their  grandchildren.  Some  descendants  of  a  fourth  gene- 
ration, however,  yet  remain,  to  whose  courtesy  I  am  in- 
debted for  clues  to  the  family  lines  and  for  the  valuable 
Lansing  pictures  which  are  furnished  with  this  book. 

Dorcas  Sarah  Dickinson  of  course  first  went  to  Albany 
to  live  after  her  marriage  to  Domine  Lansing.  There  she 
connected  herself  with  the  old  historic  church  under  Dr. 
Westerlo.  By  letter  from  it  she  united  with  the  Tappan 
church,  March  2-i,  1785.  The  Domine  and  his  wife  never 
had  a  child.  I  can  give  no  dates  of  birth  or  death  for 
Mrs.  Lansing.  She  must  have  died  about  1817,  as  it  was 
always  said  that  the  Domine  outlived  her  eighteen  years. 
She  has  no  tombstone  at  Tappan,  which  means  that  she 
was  buried  elsewhere.  The  Domine  never  married  again. 
His  niece,  Miss  Cornelia  Dickinson,  was  the  manager  of 
his  home  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Lansing  had  reached  nearly  30  years  of  age  before 
he  ever  thought  of  the  ministry.  He  passed  his  early 
manhood  as  a  sailor  on  the  Hudson  River,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  conversion  was  master  of  a  New  York  and  Albany 
saihng  vessel.  Brought  to  spiritual  concern,  his  first  ex- 
ercises were  a  painful  struggle  with  self -righteousness,  the 
memory  of  which  was  more  or  less  present  with  him 
throughout  his  entire  ministry  and  tinged  his  preaching 
to  a  wonderful  extent.  It  was  in  a  prayer  meeting  that, 
under  a  severe  assault  of  Satan,  he  first  came  really  to  feel 
the  deep  corruption  and  absolute  helplessness  of  his  nature, 
and,  giving  up  what  he  saw  to  be  a  useless  contest,  to 
abandon  himself  to  grace  alone  for  salvation.  Speaking 
of  this  experience,  he  used  to  say  earnestly,  in  phrase 
derived  from  his  early  calling,  "Then  my  proud  sails  came 
down,  and  I  saw  that  I  must  be  saved  by  free,  sovereign, 
and  unmerited  grace."  At  once  thereafter  he  felt  himself 
powerfully  drawn  to  the  ministry.  He  pursued  his  pre- 
paratory studies  under  his  pastor,  Dr.  Westerlo.     On  the 


SEEKING   THE   MINISTRY — SETTLEMENTS.  75 

3d  of  October,  1780,  he  presented  himself  before  the  Gene- 
ral Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  at  New  Paltz,  N.  Y., 
with  testimonials  from  Dr.  Westerlo  and  the  trustees  of 
Queens  College,  and  asked  to  be  examined  for  licensure. 
His  request  was  granted,  and  the  next  day,  "after  a  well- 
arranged,  comprehensive,  and  agreeable  exhibition  of  his 
thoughts  upon  Isa.  ii.  5,  in  which  the  Rev.  Body  took  special 
satisfaction,"  he  was  examined  in  the  languages  and  the 
other  subjects  required.  "His  sensible  and  ready  answers 
gave  such  general  satisfactioji "  to  the  Rev.  Body  that  it 
promptly  approved  the  examination  and  granted  the  license 
asked  (see  Minutes  of  General  Synod,  Introductory  Volume, 
pp.  79  and  80). 

One  year  later  (pages  90  and  91,  same  volume)  he  ap- 
peared again  before  the  same  body,  presenting  for  its  ap- 
proval a  call  he  had  received  from  the  three  congregations 
of  the  Manor  of  Livingston,  Columbia  County,  New  York. 
This  made  necessary  his  final  examination  for  ordination. 
This  also  he  passed  with  the  same  high  credit  to  himself  as 
his  former  one.  His  trial  sermon  with  it  was  preached  from 
Rom.  vii.  1.  The  day  of  his  ordination  is  not  given,  but  it 
was  before  the  expiration  of  1781.  He  remained  in  this 
heavy  triple  charge  till  he  received  a  call  from  the  united 
churches  of  Tappan  and  Clarkstown,  dated  August  11, 1784. 
This  call  he  accepted.  The  salary  it  proffered  was  $425, 
together  with  the  use  of  the  parsonage  and  farm.  He  was 
to  preach  in  each  church  every  other  Sabbath,  and  to  ad- 
minister the  communion  in  each  three  times  a  year.  These 
terms  continued  without  appreciable  change  almost  to  the 
end  of  his  life.  He  was  installed  December  5,  178-1,  and 
from  that  date  continued  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  two 
churches  till  1830,  when,  owing  to  his  age  (82  years),  he 
gave  up  Clarkstown.  Of  the  church  of  Tappan,  however, 
he  continued  to  be  pastor  till  his  death  in  September,  1835. 
The  whole  period  of  his  ministry  from  October,  1781,  was 
about  fifty -four  years,  of  which  fifty-one  were  given  to  the 
service  of  this  church.  During  the  last  six  of  these  years 
he  had  with  him,  first  as  an  assistant  and  then  as  an  asso- 
ciate pastor,  the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole. 


76 

The 
torate 
passed 
of  the 
solved 
mittee 


REBUILDING   OF   CHURCH   OF   1716. 

condition  of  affairs  during  Domine  Lansing's  pas- 
was  mostly  quiet.  The  era  of  church  trouble  had 
away.  The  first  event  of  note  was  the  enlargement 
house  of  worship  erected  in  1716.  This  step  was  re- 
upon  in  a  meeting  held  August  13,  1787.  The  com- 
on  the  building  work  were  Isaac  Blanch  and  Gerrit 


The  Church  as  rebuilt  in  1 


Smith.  The  work  was  done  in  1788,  but  the  money  collec- 
tions and  payments  were  not  all  completed  till  the  summer 
of  1790.  The  committee  made  its  final  report  and  secured 
its  discharge  on  the  7th  of  August  of  that  year.  ^The  cost 
of  the  building  proved  to  have  been  £768  15s.  7d.' 

'  We  give  cuts  both  of  the  first  church  (see  page  16)  and  of  the  second 
(see  above).    The  first  was  in  the  form  of  a  square  and  had  a  four-sided 


SALE   OP   THE   FORTY-TWO   ACRES.  77 

Two  further  important  acts  of  business  were  done  -within 
Domine  Lansing's  period.  The  first  was  the  seUing  of  the 
New  Jersey  lot  of  forty-two  acres  given  to  the  church  by 
the  deed  of  1729.  The  precise  date  of  the  sale  is  not  known, 
but  the  land  still  belonged  to  the  church  in  1788,  as  it  is 
mentioned  in  the  New  Jersey  Act  of  Incorporation  dated 
September  9,  and  also  in  an  inventory  of  church  property 
dated  October  1,  both  of  that  year,  and  it  is  not  mentioned 
in  the  next  inventory,  dated  October  27,  1790.  All  this 
makes  it  certain  that  the  sale  occurred  between  those  two 
dates,  and  that  the  New  Jersey  act  was  applied  for  to 
enable  the  church  to  sell  it.  I  am  told  the  Hackensack 
records  have  no  trace  of  the  sale.  Neglect  to  record  sales 
of  trivial  value  was  very  common  in  back  times.  The 
land  was  sold  to  William  Van  Dalsen,  and  at  his  death 

roof.  In  reconstructing,  the  house  was  lengthened  and  a  fine  gambrel 
or  hipped  roof  substituted.  The  spire  was  of  open  work,  exposing  to 
view  the  great  wheel  to  which  the  bell  was  attached.  The  interior  was 
painted  in  imitation  of  mahogany,  except  as  to  the  columns  that  sup- 
ported the  roof,  which  were  done  in  imitation  of  marble.  Within  the 
body  of  the  church,  against  the  sides,  were  stairs  leading  up  into  gal- 
leries. The  gallery  on  the  right  of  the  pulpit  was  appropriated  to  the 
young  men,  and  that  on  the  left  was  for  the  use  of  the  negro  slaves.  The 
maidens  occupied  pews  below  on  the  left  of  the  pulpit.  The  pulpit  was 
of  the  wine-glass  form  of  that  day,  very  high,  and  surmounted  by  the 
old-fashioned  sounding  board,  which  was  ornamented  with  a  sheaf  of 
golden  grain.  It  was  reached  on  either  side  by  a  circular  flight  of 
steps.  The  elders  and  deacons,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  sat  respectively  in  side  pews  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  min- 
ister. The  house,  in  its  earliest  days  never  artificially  heated,  was 
during  my  childhood  imperfectly  warmed  in  the  winters  by  the  "box 
stove  "  arrangement,  one  siove  being  placed  in  each  of  the  corners  near 
the  entrance.  People  brought  to  church  with  them  the  old-fashioned 
foot  stoves,  which  were  passed  from  one  to  another  during  the  service, 
for  the  warming  of  cold  feet  and  hands.  Sometimes  a  hearer  would 
leave  his  pew  and  sit  or  stand  near  one  of  the  stoves.  These  condi- 
tions prevailed  down  to  1835,  and  are  vivid  to  my  recollection.  Every 
one  went  to  church.  Infants  were  taken  in  the  arms ;  mothers  carried 
them  out  of  the  church  when  they  were  restless,  and  brought  them  in 
again  when  they  were  quieted.  All  this  and  many  more  usages  which 
we  should  now  regard  as  very  strange  were  so  common  here  as  to 
attract  no  attention  a  little  over  half  a  century  ago. 


78       THE  PARSONAGE — BLAUVELTVILLE   PRES.    CHURCH. 

passed  by  inheritance  to  William  Van  Dalsen  Haring. 
Later  still  Abraham  W.  Haring  became  its  owner,  and  he 
finally  sold  it  to  Hiram  Slocum  at  $100  an  acre.  Then  it 
was  laid  out  in  lots  and  disposed  of  to  French  and  Italian 
purchasers.  The  site  and  dimensions  of  the  property  are 
described  in  the  deed  already  given.  The  present  village 
of  North  Vale,  on  the  Northern  Railroad  of  New  Jersey,  is 
upon  this  land,  and  probably  not  far  from  the  centre  of 
the  original  lot. 

The  second  was  an  extensive  reconstruction  of  the  par- 
sonage in  1Y97,  in  the  expense  of  which  the  two  congrega- 
tions of  Tappan  and  New  Hempstead  (Clarkstown)  shared 
equally.  The  only  knowledge  I  have  of  this  comes  from  a 
loose  paper,  still  preserved,  in  which,  under  date  of  Febru- 
ary 22,  1798,  Abraham  Haring,  Peter  S.  Demarest,  Cor- 
nelius Corns.  Smith,  and  Jacobus  Van  Orden,  representing 
themselves  as  "the  trustees  appointed  by  the  consistories 
of  Tappan  and  New  Hempstead  for  superintending  the 
building  of  the  parsonage  house  at  Tappan,"  bring  in  a 
report  that  they  have  completed  their  work  and  that 
everything  has  been  done  according  to  directions. 

Of  course  the  word  "building"  here  means  important 
reconstructing.  The  house  was  then  already  over  60  years 
of  age,  and  perhaps  it  was  reroof ed  and  interiorly  renewed, 
the  walls  and  beams  only  being  preserved  intact.  The 
walls  of  to-day  are  the  same  within  which  every  pastor  of 
the  church  has  lived  since  the  day  when  the  house  was 
first  erected  for  Domine  Muzelius  soon  after  1729. 

During  the  first  twelve  years  of  the  present  century  the 
people  of  Greenbush  (now  BlauveltviUe),  about  half-way 
between  Tappan  and  Clarkstown,  became  much  interested 
in  education  and  local  elevation  generally.  The  afterward 
noted  Greenbush  Academy  was  erected  about  1809.  It 
soon  gained  a  wide  reputation  through  the  successes  of  an 
accomplished  teacher  named  Bailey,  who  lived  and  taught 
in  it.  The  teaching  and  speaking  of  the  English  language 
were  taken  up  as  never  before  in  the  locality.  The  neigh- 
borhood began  to  assert  itself.  The  people  applied  to 
Domine  Lansing  and  his  two  consistories    to  encourage 


BLAUVELTVILLE  CHURCH — SALE   OF  LAND.  79 

among  them  the  organization  of  a  new  Reformed  church. 
They  assigned  as  their  reasons  their  distance  from  the 
Tappan  and  Clarkstown  churches,  and  their  growing  need 
for  Enghsh  preaching,  which  had  not  yet  come  to  be 
common  in,  perhaps  had  not  yet  been  introduced  into,  the 
churches  named.  They  were  repelled,  but  they  persisted. 
Finall;^  they  carried  their  appeal  to  Classis.  Tappan  and 
Clarkstown  were  instructed  by  this  body  to  look  into  and 
consider  their  case.  The  consistories  met,  took  up  and 
discussed  it,  and  finally  determined,  to  use  their  own 
words,  to  "oppose  the  request  from  Greenbush  with  all 
their  might."  The  result  was  that  the  applicants  at  once 
took  their  case  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hudson,  and  on  the 
18th  of  October,  1812,  were  organized  into  a  Presbyterian 
church.  This  was  the  first  break  of  surrounding  people 
here  from  the  Reformed  Church  fold.  No  doubt  the 
pastor  and  consistories  believed  that  they  were  acting  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  churches  and  the  general  com- 
munity. But  it  is  certain  that  if  they  had  encouraged  the 
brethren  at  Greenbush  in  their  desires,  the  church  of  that 
neighborhood,  now  82  years  old,  formed  by  our  own  Hol- 
land people,  would  have  been  all  this  time  a  Reformed 
church.  The  Nyack  Presbyterian  Church,  organized  April 
8,  1816,  originated  in  the  same  way.  The  people  of  both 
were  purely  Reformed  people  at  the  start. 

The  only  other  business  matters  of  note  that  seem  to 
have  come  up  during  Domine  Lansing's  time  were  con- 
nected with  the  glebe  of  55  acres.  On  the  5th  of  January, 
1786,  the  Consistory  determined  to  sell  two  pieces  of  land, 
one  on  the  east  and  the  other  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Greenbush  road,  the  latter  "  near  the  old  school  house  "  to 
which  I  have  referred.  The  area  sold  must  have  amounted 
to  about  15  acres,  because  in  the  inventories  of  1788  and 
1790  the  glebe,  at  first  55  acres,  is  put  down  at  "40  acres, 
more  or  less."  Already,  just  before  the  death  of  Domine 
Verbryck,  on  the  11th  of  December,  1783,  the  cemetery 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Greenbush  road  had  been  set  off 
from  the  rest  of  the  land.  Domine  Verbryck  was  buried 
in  it  only  a  few  days  later,  February  2,  1784.     Perhaps  his 


80  THE   SECESSION  OF   1823. 

remains  were  the  first  that  were    deposited  within  that 
ground. 

The  ministry  of  Domine  Lansing  was  one  of  great  length, 
but  I  do  not  know  of  any  other  prominent  business  matters 
that  came  up  within  it.  The  Domine  was  honored  with 
the  presidency  of  Genera]  Synod  in  1809.  His  ministry 
was  laborious,  but  certainly  the  last  half  of  it  was  not 
eventful  as  to  any  special  matters  within  the  church  itself. 
The  war  of  1812  passed  within  it.  The  Domine  of  course 
saw  the  remains  of  Andre  exhumed  in  1821.  I  have  heard 
him  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  transaction.  The 
most  important  event  after  all  this  was  the  great  secession 
of  1822.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  an  account  of  this 
here  (see  Corwin's  Manual,  p.  74,  on  the  "True  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church";  also  the  same  work  upon  Rev. 
Solomon  Froeligh,  pp.  2Y-1-27T).  The  secession  touched 
the  membership  of  this  Tappan  church.  Several  members 
withdrew  from  it.  A  paper  of  interest  is  on  the  church 
minute  book  in  connection  with  the  event.  The  withdraw- 
ing members  had  organized  themselves  into  a  congregation 
of  the  new  self -constituted  body,  and  they  now  needed  a 
house  in  which  to  worship.  The  paper  to  which  I  refer  is 
a  letter,  signed  by  their  elders  and  deacons,  asking  for  the 
use  of  the  church  building  for  "one-half  the  time  when  it 
is  not  used  by  the  congregation  which  now  has  it  in  pos- 
session." The  request  is  strongly  urged  upon  grounds 
which  seemed  plausible  to  the  applicants,  but,  of  course,  it 
was  impossible  to  grant  it,  and  there  is  no  evidence  upon 
the  book  that  a  reply  was  ever  made  to  it  or  that  it 
was  ever  renewed.  The  result  was  the  erection,  in  the 
southern  part  of  this  village,  of  what  was  long  known 
as  "The  Seceders'  Church,"  a  building  which  has  since 
passed  through  a  varied  experience,  and  of  whose  origin 
probably  the  present  generation  is  largely  ignorant.  It  is 
now  a  Methodist  Episcopal  house  of  worship.  This  was 
the  second  going  off  from  this  church  of  people  who  had 
once  been  firmly  devoted  to  it.  Events  like  these,  as 
they  come  up  one  after  another  in  this  history,  furnish 


REV.    NICHOLAS  LANSING.  81 

an  answer  to  the  question  how  this  church,  once  the  sole 
occupant  and  practically  the  monarch  of  this  territory, 
came  to  lose  so  much  of  its  prestige  as  its  years  were 
coming  along. 

No  history  of  Domine  Lansing's  period  would  be  com- 
plete without  an  adequate  account  of  himself.  I  prepared 
a  sketch  of  him  for  Beers  &  Co.'s  ''History  of  Eockland 
County  "  in  1884.  The  proper  place  for  that  sketch  is  in 
this  book,  in  which  it  will  be  seen  and  read  by  the  people 
and  friends  of  this  church.  "So,  with  slight  modifications, 
I  give  it  here. 

Domine  Lansing  was  a  most  unusual  man.  Certain  re- 
markable peculiarities  of  constitutional  temperament  and 
of  personal  and  pulpit  manner,  during  fifty-one  years  of 
ministry  in  Eockland  County,  so  impressed  his  individualism 
upon  the  people,  and  embedded  him  in  their  traditions,  that 
his  name  has  long  been  among  them  an  inspiration  of  legen- 
dary spell.  I  was  in  close  daily  intercourse  with  him 
through  his  last  six  years,  hved  in  the  same  house  with 
him  during  several  of  his  latest  months,  and  was  old 
enough  and  observant  enough  to  understand  him,  being 
13  years  old  when  he  died.  For  six  years  I  listened  to  his 
preaching,  two  Sabbaths  in  each  month,  alternately  in 
Dutch  and  English.  I  take  pleasure  in  recalling  what  I 
can  of  him  and  committing  it  to  this  permanent  form. 

"Domine  Lon-seu,"  as  he  was  popularly  called,  was,  as 
to  person,  figure,  and  movements,  tall,  gaunt,  and  un- 
gainly. He  wore  the  Continental  dress  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  though  it  had  been  so  long  discarded  that  to  most 
people  it  had  already  become  a  real  curiosity.  He  was  in 
such  feeble  health  when  he  began  his  studies  that  his  rela- 
tives opposed  the  step,  and  his  physician  insisted  that  he 
would  never  reach  the  pulpit.  Yet  he  gained  instead  of 
losing  in  strength,  and  enjoyed  a  phenomenal  vigor  through- 
out his  whole  ministerial  life.  He  may  have  owed  his 
early  recovered  and  permauently  preserved  health  to  the 
fact  that,  when  unaccompanied,  he  took  all  his  Sabbath 
rides  to  Clarkstown,  and  made  all  his  pastoral  calls,  on 
6 


82  REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING. 

horseback.  I  have  often  seen  him,  after  he  had  ah-eady 
passed  his  eighty-first  year,  run  down  the  parsonage  lawn, 
leap  over  the  fence  in  contempt  of  the  gate,  spring  on  his 
horse,  and  ride  away  with  a  vigor  that  left  me  amazed. 
All  his  movements  and  words  were  nervously  impulsive, 
and  many  of  them  were  fiery  and  impassionate.  His  life 
was  a  perpetual  drive  of  energy,  ajDplied  to  all  matters 
alike,  whether  small  or  great.  Yet  he  never  broke  down 
in  his  work.  He  had  a  life -long  and  inveterate  habit  of 
snuffing.  He  carried  his  snuff  loose  in  his  vest  pocket, 
and  used  it  so  freely  and  carelessly  that  it  became  en- 
grained into,  and  literally  colored,  his  clothing  from  head 
to  foot.  He  lived  in  a  day  when  photographs  were  un- 
known, and  he  never  would  allow  a  painted  portrait  of 
himself  to  be  taken.'  For  this  reason  I  have  been  so 
minute  in  this  pen  picture,  that  I  might  convey  to  my 
readers  a  satisfactory  idea  of  the  person,  health,  and 
habits  of  this  wonderful  man. 

No  one  ever  doubted  that  Domine  Lansing  had  been,  and 
was,  the  subject  of  a  powerful  work  of  converting  and 
sanctifying  grace.  His  whole  nature  was  pervaded  with 
his  religion  and  with  the  spirit  of  consecration  to  his  Mas- 
ter. He  had  an  awful  horror  of  sin  and  sinning,  was 
terribly  afraid  of  tempters  and  temptations,  and  never 
discovered  that  he  had  done  a  wrong  to  any  one  without 
making  haste  at  once  to  own  and,  if  possible,  to  undo  it. 
His  impulsive  temperament  continually  led  him  into  saying 
and  doing  things  which  yet  his  deep-seated  purity  of  soul 
abhorred.  Thus  he  was  constantly  repenting  and  humbling 
himself.  All  this  was  lived  out  before  his  people,  and 
proved  to  all  who  knew  him  the  profoundness  of  his  con- 
version, the  deep  spiritual  character  of  the  man,  and  the 
heart  sincerity  of  his  life. 

In  childhood  I  used  to  look  upon  Domine  Lansing  as  a 

'  I  have  been  especially  fortunate  in  finding  among  the  relatives  a 
portrait  of  his  father,  John  J.  Lansing,  taken  in  his  ninetieth  year,  and 
also  a  group  painting  of  his  brother,  Jacob  J.  Lansing,  his  wife,  Jan- 
netje  Heyer,  and  tlieir  daughter  (only  child).  These  paintings,  repro- 
duced, are  given  with  this  history. 


REV.    NICHOLAS  LANSING.  83 

very  great  scholar.  He  could  not  have  been  all  I  thought 
him  in  this  respect.  His  opportunities  for  that  early  cul- 
ture which  is  indispensable  to  elementary  and  refined 
accuracy  had  been  limited.  He  was  to  a  great  extent  self- 
made,  and  he  started  upon  study  in  late  manhood.  Yet 
he  was  an  indefatigable  student  of  the  Bible  in  its  originals, 
and  also  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  fathers  and  of  the  Latin 
theologians.  I  have  his  Hebrew  Bible  and  some  of  his 
other  books  in  my  own  library.  The  margins  of  some  of 
these  books  are  filled  with  finely  written  annotations,  indi- 
cating that  they  were  laboriously  studied.  I  have  personal 
memory  of  the  constancy  with  which  he  pored  over  his 
books.  He  acquired  a  wonderful  control  over  the  Scrip- 
tures. Then,  too,  his  devotion  to  prayer  was  remarkable. 
He  believed  profoundly  in  the  saying,  "6eue  orasse,  bene 
studuisse.'''  He  frequently  spent  much  of  a  night,  and 
sometimes  a  whole  night,  in  prayer.  His  clothing  always 
gave  way  first  upon  the  knees.  He  was  also  a  firm  believer 
in  fasting,  which  he  practised  to  a  large  extent.  So  much 
I  remember  of  him  as  a  student,  a  man  of  prayer,  and  a 
man  of  rigid  self- discipline.  I  have  even  yet  much  respect 
for  his  scholarship.  But  I  now  well  understand  that  his 
piety  and  his  closeness  of  walk  and  communion  with  God 
were  the  overtopping  peculiarities  of  his  personal  life. 

I  have  already  described  the  wine-glass  pulpit  in  which 
he  preached.  Every  memory  I  have  of  his  ascent  of  its 
winding  steps,  and  of  his  services  while  occupying  it,  is  a 
memory  of  intense  solemnity.  In  going  up  he  always 
prostrated  himself  upon  the  steps  at  full  length,  and  re- 
mained prostrated  for  several  minutes,  evidently  absorbed 
in  earnest  prayer.  Then,  rising,  he  ascended  to  his  place 
with  the  air  of  a  man  who  "  walked  with  God."  In  the 
order  of  service  he  carried  out  the  usages  of  the  Reformed 
churches  of  his  day.  During  the  summer  and  autumn  of 
each  year  he  always  preached  twice  in  the  church,  with  an 
interval  of  not  more  than  a  half-hour  between  the  services. 
The  second  service  in  the  church,  during  his  whole  min- 
istry, he  devoted  to  an  exposition  of  a  Lord's  Day  of  the 
Heidelberg  Catechism.     The  first  service  of  the  day  was 


84  REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING. 

never  less  than  two  hours  in  length,  and  the  second  was 
never  less  than  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  morning  order 
was  begun  by  the  clerk  (Voorleser),  who  stood  below  in 
front  of  the  pulpit,  read  the  Ten  Commandments,  and 
then  gave  out  a  psalm  and  sang  it  with  the  people.  As  I 
have  said  already,  the  Domine's  services  in  his  later  years, 
on  his  two  Sabbaths  of  each  month,  were  conducted  alter- 
nately in  Dutch  and  English,  with  the  singing  of  each 
service  in  language  to  correspond.  I  do  not  know  how 
early  the  first  English  sermon  was  preached  at  Tappan ; 
certainly  it  could  not  have  been  before  Domine  Lansing's 
day.  Probably  he  preached  more  or  less  in  English  from 
the  time  of  his  settlement.  I  know  that  the  Dutch  preach- 
ing maintained  the  ascendency  till  after  1820,'  and  it  was 
continued  once  every  month  till  his  death  in  1835.  The 
church  employed  different  clerks  for  the  different  lan- 
guages. The  clerk  for  the  Dutch  services  was  the  ven- 
erable Samuel  G.  Verbryck,  of  whom  I  have  already 
spoken.  And  the  first  clerk  for  the  English  services  of 
whom  I  have  knowledge  was  Mr.  Jacob  I.  Blauvelt,  who 
is  first  mentioned  in  that  capacity  in  the  book  July  22, 
1826.  When  the  clerk's  part  of  the  service  ended  the 
Domine's  began.  He  introduced  his  part  with  the  famous 
"  exordium  remotum,"  an  exposition  of  the  whole  or  some 
part  of  his  Scripture  reading,  intended  to  prepare  his 
hearers  for  the  treatment  of  the  main  subject  of  the  ser- 
vice. This  exordium  was  often  of  great  length  ;  it  fre- 
quently took  more  time  than  would  be  tolerated  in  our 
day  for  a  regular  sermon.  Yet  the  hearers  never  com- 
plained. The  usage  was  fixed,  and  so  were  the  nerves  of 
the  people.  But  the  pulpit  manner  of  the  Domine  I  can 
never  forget.  His  eccentricities,  of  which,  of  course,  I 
shall  have  shortly  to  speak,  were  not  uppermost.  Upper- 
most was  grave  dignity,  the  manner  of  an  ambassador 

'  All  the  records  of  members,  marriages,  and  baptisms  were  kept  in 
Dutch  terms  till  1816.  The  first  minutes  of  Consistory  kept  in  English 
are  dated  August  4,  1783,  tlie  year  of  the  church's  incorporation. 
Dollars  and  cents,  instead  of  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence,  are  first 
used  in  a  minute  December  14,  1801. 


REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING.  85 

from  God,  deeply  conscious  of  the  weight  of  his  message, 
and  of  the  dehghtful,  or  the  dreadful,  issues  to  his  hearers 
that  hung  upon  the  earnest  and  faithful,  or  the  careless 
and  slovenly,  delivery  of  it.  Notwithstanding  his  naturally 
fiery  temperament  when  suddenly  roused,  there  was  a 
benignity  in  the  old  pastor's  face  and  a  gentleness  in  his 
conversation,  when  his  spirit  was  at  rest,  that  drew  my 
heart  to  him  in  an  instant  when  we  met  in  private.  But 
in  the  pulpit  he  was  a  literal  thunderer.  He  seemed  to 
look  down  on  us  from  the  sl^y.  He  bottomed  every  sermon 
with  the  most  searching  analysis  of  the  human  heart, 
labored  with  terrible  earnestness  to  dislodge  unscriptural 
hopes,  and  always  ended  by  shutting  down  his  hearers  to 
Christ  only  as  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life.  He  applied 
the  terrors  of  the  law  till  men  shivered  with  fear,  and  then 
turned  them  to  the  grace  of  the  Gospel  and  the  free  salva- 
tion till  they  clearly  saw  the  sinner's  only  hope.  He  was 
a  master  in  the  realm  of  spiritual  experience.  He  knew 
every  chord  of  the  heart  and  every  sensation  of  it,  and  his 
sermons  were  enriched  with  delineations  in  which,  as  in  a 
glass,  every  spirit-led  hearer  could  see  his  own  exercises 
reflected  and  explained.  None  of  his  eccentricities  ever 
obscured  these  prevailing  characteristics.  Every  one  saw 
and  felt  that  these  were  not  put  on,  but  were  part  of  the 
man.  And  so  in  his  case  they  served  to  deepen,  not  to 
injure,  the  effect  of  his  profoundly  earnest  and  intel- 
ligently weighty  teachings  and  appeals.  He  had  never 
used  manuscript  in  the  pulpit,  and  he  had  become  largely 
repetitive  in  his  later  years.  Yet  even  his  repetitions 
were  powerfully  effective  in  deepening  the  impressions 
and  fixing  the  memory  of  his  preaching.  What  he  re- 
peated was  not  the  commonplace,  but  always  the  striking. 
Over  and  over  he  uttered  sayings  of  the  most  vital  moment. 
He  seemed  to  gather  into  a  few  aphoristic  utterances  the 
accumulations  of  a  life  study  and  a  life  experience,  that  he 
might  be  snre  at  last  to  leave  his  best  things  with  his 
people.  His  sayings  have  long  been  among  the  floating 
traditions  of  Rockland  County.     They  continue  even  yet 


86  REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING. 

to  affect  the  religious  life  of  the  whole  region  over  which 
the  remarkable  preacher  was  so  well  known. 

From  what  has  been  already  said  it  will  be  understood 
that  he  was  eccentric  even  in  figure  and  movements.  But 
his  chief  eccentricities  lay  in  his  sayings.  Had  they  been 
affected  they  would  not  be  noticed  here.  But  they  were 
of  the  essence  of  the  man,  and  were  so  overruled  by  divine 
grace  as  to  become  wonderfully  subservient  to  his  life  work 
and  mission.  His  most  ordinary  speech  in  common  life 
was  unusual.  On  one  occasion,  after  spending  a  tedious 
week  of  calm  on  a  sloop  between  New  York  and  Albany, 
during  which  he  had  been  tortured  with  the  profanity  of 
a  godless  crew,  being  asked  how  he  felt,  he  replied  :  "  Oh, 
miserable!  I  have  been  in  hell  for  the  last  week."  He  was 
proverbially  forgetful  as  to  the  care  of  his  horse,  always 
placing  too  much  reliance  upon  his  colored  servants,  who 
were  wholly  wanting  in  concern  for  him.  I  well  remem- 
ber the  appearance  of  the  misused  animal.  And  yet  the 
Domine  always  drove  at  the  top  of  his  speed.  On  one 
occasion  a  person  at  the  roadside  called  to  him  as  he  was 
riding  by:  "  Domine,  you  ride  as  if  the  devil  is  after  you." 
"Oh,  yes,"  he  replied,  "  he  is  always  after  me."  At  another 
time,  in  returning  from  Clarkstown  with  lady  relatives  in 
company,  at  a  sharp  turn  in  the  road  not  far  from  his 
home  he  drove  over  a  cow  lying  in  his  way,  bringing  about 
the  complete  wreck  of  his  wagon  and  the  scattering  of  the 
company  over  the  road.  No  one  was  hurt.  Even  the  cow 
was  safe.  But  the  ladies,  of  course,  were  much  frightened. 
Amid  the  confusion  the  Domine,  whose  mental  absorption 
had  been  the  occasion  of  the  catastrophe,  came  to  a  dawn- 
ing sense  of  what  had  happened.  His  first  thought,  how- 
ever, went  to  his  neighbor,  whose  cow  he  feared  he  had 
injured  or  perhaps  killed,  and  his  first  exclamation  was: 
"No  matter,  my  dears,  I  will  pay  for  the  cow — I  will  pay 
for  the  cow!  "  Such  peculiarities  were  characteristic  of  his 
ordinary  life.  But  it  was  with  his  pulpit  and  preaching 
that  most  of  his  eccentric  utterances  were  connected.  One 
of  his  sayings,  repeated  countless  times  in  my  own  hearing, 
a  quotation  from  old  authors,  meant  to  illustrate  the  real 


REV.    NICHOLAS  LANSING.  87 

place  of  works  in  the  plan  of  salvation,  was:  "Do  and 
live?  Do  and  be  damned!  I  have  never  said  to  you,  Do 
and  live,  but.  Live  and  do  !"  Another,  intended  to  im- 
press the  certainty  with  which  all  his  hearers  were  hasten- 
ing to  their  earthly  end,  was:  "The  time  will  come  when 
two  men  will  meet  upon  the  road,  and  one  will  say  to  the 
othei;,  '  Did  you  know  Domine  Lonsen  ? '  '  Know  him  ? ' 
the  other  will  reply—'  of  course  I  did.  Who  didn't  know 
Domine  Lonsen  ? '  '  Well,  he's  dead ! ' "  And  another  still, 
intended  to  rebuke  carelessness  about  death  as  the  event 
certain  to  all,  was:  "  Not  afraid  to  die!  Who  says  he's  not 
afraid  to  die  ?  I'm  afraid  to  die!  "  This  way  of  illustrating 
his  points,  as  I  remember,  used  to  send  a  fearful  startle 
through  my  own  child  nature.  But  there  were  other 
phases  of  this  eccentricity  that  simply  grew  out  of  his  ra- 
pidity of  thought  and  speech,  developing  the  most  grotesque 
combinations,  evidently  unperceived  and  unsuspected  by 
himself.  Many  traditions  of  these  were  afloat  in  my  child- 
hood. One  was  that  once,  while  preaching,  he  fell  to 
turning  over  the  leaves  of  the  Bible  to  find  and  read  a 
passage  from  one  of  Paul's  letters,  saying  as  he  did  so: 
"Paul  says— Paul  says— what  says  Paul ? "  At  this  junc- 
ture the  negroes  in  the  gallery  were  whispering.  The  good 
Domine  heard  them,  and  continuing  with  his  words, "  Paul 
says— Paul  says— what  says  Paul  ?"  added  in  Dutch,  with- 
out lifting  his  eyes  or  changing  his  tone,  as  if  reading  his 
newly  found  text:  "Niggers  mus'n't  talk  in  the  gallery." 
Another  variety  of  his  eccentricity  is  illustrated  by  the 
tradition  that  once,  while  preaching  on  Noah  saved  in  the 
ark,  he  descended  from  the  pulpit  with  the  remark  to  his 
hearers,  "I  don't  suppose  you  know  how  the  ark  looked," 
and  began  to  draw  an  outline  of  the  vessel  in  their  sight. 
The  story  goes  that  the  elders,  one  or  more,  rose  from  their 
seats,  gently  took  him  by  the  arm,  and  suggested  that  he 
was  not  doing  a  wise  thing,  whereupon  he  yielded  to  them  at 
once  and  returned  to  the  pulpit,  saying  as  he  went,  "  Well, 
well,  if  you  know  more  than  I  do,  all  right."  It  is  also 
stated  that  at  one  time,  while  preaching  with  great  earnest- 
ness, he  was  stamping  on  the  pulpit  floor  and  pounding 


88  REV,    NICHOLAS   LANSING. 

the  open  Bible  with  terrible  energy,  when  he  heard  behind 
him  indications  that  the  one-legged  pulpit  (pinned  to  the 
wall  rather  insecurely)  was  giving  way.  He  had  heard 
these  indications  before  and  spoken  of  them.  At  this  time 
he  took  up  his  pulpit  Bible,  came  down  the  steps,  entered 
the  clerk's  desk,  placed  the  book  upon  its  board,  and,  before 
resuming  his  sermon,  said:  "I  have  told  the  Consistory  a 
hundred  times  that  this  pulpit  will  fall.  I  believe  they 
want  me  to  break  my  neck."  Countless  traditions  similar 
to  these  were  in  circulation  in  Rockland  County,  and  also 
in  and  around  Albany,  in  his  old  home,  where  he  occasion- 
ally preached.  But  the  power  of  his  eccentricities  lay  in 
his  illustrations  of  the  points  he  made  in  speaking.  Many 
times  he  used  to  say  when  preaching  in  the  old  stone  church: 
"A  sinner  can  no  more  save  himself  than  I  can  take  up 
this  church  and  throw  it  across  the  river  to  Tarrytown," 
Then,  too,  his  directness  of  personal  application  to  his 
hearers  was  wonderful.  Exchanging  once  with  a  brother, 
and  preaching  to  a  new  audience,  he  laid  the  sins  of  the 
people  before  them  with  pointed  finger,  saying,  "  You 
know  that  you  lie,  that  you  get  drunk,  that  you  are  dis- 
honest in  your  dealings,"  and  so  on,  alleging  against  them 
infraction  of  all  the  commandments  of  the  decalogue,  and 
charging  them  with  all  manner  of  sins,  till  the  people  were 
dodging  about  to  get  from  under  the  range  of  that  pointed 
finger,  and  wondering  how  the  Tappan  Domine  could  know 
so  much  about  the  sins  of  their  lives.  Such  was  the  man. 
He  was  *'  sui  generis."  No  one  could  imitate  him.  If  his 
eccentricities  had  not  been  his  nature,  they  would  have  been 
his  defect  and  defeat.  As  they  were,  they  added  to  the  ef- 
fectiveness of  his  example  and  his  preaching.  They  helped 
to  shape  the  character  and  develop  the  strength  of  his 
church.  On  one  occasion,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Classis  of 
Paramus,  when  reports  from  the  churches  were  the  order 
of  the  day,  the  president  inquired  for  the  report  from 
Tappan  (then  always,  and  even  yet  often,  pronounced 
"Top-on").  "  What  has  Domine  Lonsen  to  report  about 
Top-on  ?"  "  Top-on,"  said  the  Domine,  with  a  sigh  of  sad- 
ness— "Top-on  ?    Why,  all  Top-on  is  dead,  and  I  am  dead 


REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING.  89 

too."  The  president  thereupon  called  upon  the  Domine  to 
pray  for  Top-on,  and  he  complied  in  a  manner  which 
proved  that  however  it  might  be  with  the  congregation  at 
Tappan,  the  pastor  of  the  church  was  very  far  indeed  from 
dead.  Such,  I  repeat,  was  this  most  remarkable  man.  I 
could  not  be  said  to  have  written  a  history  of  this  church 
if  I  ^ad  dealt  scantily  or  hastily  with  the  subject  of  his 
character  and  life. 

He  preached  regularly  in  his  turns  till  within  two  weeks 
of  his  death.  His  last  sermon  was  delivered  on  the  13th 
of  September,  1835.  This  was  the  year  of  the  erection  of 
the  present  church,  of  which  I  shall  have  to  speak  under 
the  period  of  the  next  pastor.  The  services  of  the  summer 
had  been  held  in  the  old  thatched  barn  of  the  parsonage 
property,  now  long  since  superseded.  The  improvised  seats 
were  crowded,  and  the  place  was  thronged  with  people 
sitting  and  standing  in  and  around.  The  Domine  was 
feeble  and  had  reached  the  barn  only  with  the  support  of 
his  Associate  and  elders.  He  said  afterward  that  he  had 
prayed  for  five  times  his  usual  strength.  He  must  have 
been  answered  with  at  least  strength  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion's special  need.  For  all  who  heard  him  agreed  that  he 
delivered  on  this  occasion  one  of  the  most  powerfully  im- 
pressive discourses  of  his  life. 

It  was  noticed  that  he  preached  as  if  conscious  that  he 
was  uttering  his  last  public  words,  and  a  strong  impression 
took  possession  of  the  audience  while  he  was  speaking  that 
this  was  the  case.  He  tried  to  stand,  but  tottered.  The 
elders  feared  that  he  would  fall,  and  tenderly  begged  him 
to  sit  while  speaking,  which  he  did.  He  earnestly  re- 
minded the  people  of  his  past  instructions.  "  I  have  never 
preached  to  you  'Do  and  Live,'"  he  said,  "but  always 
'Live  and  Do.'"  Recalling  how  much  he  had  always 
dwelt  upon  the  nature  and  necessity  of  the  new  birth, 
saving  faith,  true  repentance,  and  a  godly  life,  he  repeated 
what  he  said  was  now  necessary  for  them  to  know  for 
their  salvation,  and  earnestly  exhorted  them  all  to  give 
prompt  and  supreme  attention  to  the  "one  thing  needful." 


90  REV.    NICHOLAS   LANSING. 

All  felt  that  he  was  speaking  as  a  dying  man  to  dying 
men.  At  once  after  this  he  took  to  his  bed,  and  on  Satur- 
day morning,  September  26,  very  early,  he  passed  away. 
All  through  his  Christian  life  he  had  been  harassed  with 
a  fear,  not  of  the  issues  of  death,  but  of  the  experience  of 
dying.  On  his  deathbed  he  never  alluded  to  this,  but  was 
constantly  engaged  in  prayer  and  in  giving  spiritual  in- 
struction to  those  around  him.  His  death  created  a  pro- 
found sensation  over  a  large  section  of  country,  and  his 
funeral  services,  at  the  beginning  of  the  following  week, 
held  in  the  same  rude  sanctuary  in  which  he  had  borne  his 
last  testimony  for  his  Lord,  were  attended  by  an  immense 
concourse  of  people  brought  together  from  near  and  from 
far. 

Such  was  the  earthly  record  and  the  earthly  end  of  this 
earnest,  godly  man  and  powerful  preacher  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  His  remains,  like  those  of  his  predecessors,  Muze- 
lius  and  Verbryck,  were  interred  at  Tappan.  They  lie  in 
the  yard  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  and  the  spot  is  still 
marked  with  the  original  stone,  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription, prepared  by  his  Associate,  the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole  : 

' '  In  Memory  of  the  Reverend  Nicholas  Lansing,  Late  Minis- 
ter of  the  Gospel  at  Tappan.  Born  in  the  City  of  Albany  the 
20th  Day  of  September  1748.  Died  26th  September  1835. 
Aged  87  years  and  6  Days.  More  than  fifty  years  a  humble 
and  zealous  Servant  in  his  Master's  cause.  '  Remember  ye  not 
that  when  I  was  yet  with  you  I  told  you  these  things.' " 

"  Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh." 

The  habits  of  Doraine  Lansing,  like  those  of  Domine  Ver- 
bryck, were  frugal.  Although  he  was  open-hearted  and 
liberal,  yet  he  accumulated  money.  His  will  is  in  my  pos- 
session now.  It  bequeaths  $600  for  the  education  of  young 
men  for  the  ministry  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  New 
Brunswick,  N,  J.  The  principal  of  this  legacy  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  our  General  Synod.  The  rest  of  his  es- 
tate he  left  to  his  natural  heirs. 


j:/i^  a.-t>^ 


REV.   ISAAC  D.   COLE. 
^  {Fourth  Pastor.) 

NOVEMBER  1,    1829— FEBRUARY  9,    1864. 

The  fourth  settled  pastor  of  this  church  differed  from  any 
yet  mentioned  in  being  a  native  of  Rockland  County  and 
of  a  lineage  identified  from  1695  to  now  with  the  progress 
of  its  Reformed  churches.  He  was  born  at  Spring  Valley, 
January  25,  1799,  but  was  a  resident  of  New  York  City  from 
1802  to  1826.  He  became  a  subject  of  spiritual  conversion 
in  1817,  and  almost  at  once  thereafter  began  to  prepare  for 
college  with  a  view  to  the  ministry.  Twice,  however,  in 
his  eagerness  to  get  forward,  his  sight  gave  way  under  ex- 
cessive night  application  to  study,  and  at  last  he  laid  aside 
his  purpose,  believing  that  the  Lord  was  not  with  him  in 
it.  In  1821,  having  already  taught  a  year  or  two  in 
New  York,  he  married  Anna  Maria  Shatzel,  daughter  of 
John  Michael  Shatzel,  Jr.,'  and  Barbara  Wood,  the  latter 
a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Wood,  the  Court  House  patriot  of 
Tappan,  already  mentioned.  After  a  few  more  years  of 
teaching  he  entered  the  New  Brunswick  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  September,  1826,  and  was  graduated  in  July, 
1829.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New  York  on  the 
4th  of  August  following.  At  his  examination  his  trial 
sermon,  still  preserved,  was  upon  "The  Security  of  the 
Church  of  God."  At  once  the  Tappan  Consistory  sought 
and  procured  him  as  an  Assistant  to  the  venerable  Domine 
Lansing,  still  pastor  both  at  Tappan  and  Clarkstown, 
though  now  81  years  of  age.  His  engagement  was  to 
preach  every  other  Sabbath  and  perform  the  pastoral  work 

'  Oldest  of  fourteen  children  of  John  Michael  Shatzel  and  Anna 
Maria  Tremberin,  both  born  in  Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Germany. 
Barbara  Shatzel,  his  wife,  died  in  New  York  of  yellow  fever,  August 
10,  1798.     Anna  Maria  was  her  only  child. 


92  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

of  the  church.  He  took  his  place  on  the  1st  of  November, 
and  passed  his  first  winter  with  his  family  in  the  "  Wash- 
ington Headquarters,"  the  Washington  room  being  one  of 
his  apartments.  In  April,  1830,  he  rented,  and  for  the 
next  two  years  occupied,  a  well-remembered  house,  long 
ago  destroyed  by  fire,  which  stood  at  the  south  end  of  the 
village,  facing  northward  up  the  street.  In  the  same 
month  he  was  employed  by  the  Reformed  church  of 
Schraalenbergh  for  his  Sabbaths  not  used  at  Tappan. 
This  double  arrangement  continued  till  December,  1832. 
In  the  spring  of  1831  the  Consistory  at  Tappan  called  him 
to  the  higher  relation  of  Associate  Pastor.  At  his  exami- 
nation by  the  meeting  of  Classis  at  which  he  accepted  this 
call  he  preached  his  trial  sermon  from  Isaiah  liii.  5.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  on  the  24th  of  May.  Rev. 
Wilhelmus  Eltinge  preached  the  sermon,  from  Luke  x.  56  ; 
the  charges  to  the  pastor  and  people  were  given  respec- 
tively by  Rev.  Jefferson  Wynkoop  and  Rev.  Stephen 
Goetschius  ;  and  Domine  Lansing  oifered  the  prayer  of  or- 
dination. Early  in  1832  he  purchased  the  property  on  the 
Piermont  road  now  owned  by  the  Blakeney  family,  and 
opened  a  boarding  school  in  addition  to  his  pastorate.  On 
the  12th  of  December  he  obtained  his  dismission  from  Tap- 
pan  on  a  call  he  had  received  from  the  Second  Reformed 
Church  of  Totowa,  at  Paterson,  N.  J.  He  removed  to  Pat- 
erson  on  the  16th  of  the  same  month,  and  was  installed 
in  his  new  charge  on  Sabbath,  January  6,  1833.  Having 
spent  one  year  in  Paterson,  upon  a  strong  recall  he  re- 
turned to  his  first  charge  in  the  next  December,  and  re- 
sided till  April,  1831,  in  a  house  at  Old  Tappan  about  two 
miles  from  the  church.  In  April,  1831,  he  again  rented 
the  house  he  had  formerly  occupied  at  the  south  end  of 
the  village.  In  April,  1835,  Domine  Lansing  invited  him 
to  occupy  a  part  of  the  parsonage,  and  he  complied.  The 
congregation,  during  the  summer  following,  erected  the 
frame  extension  at  the  north  end  of  the  house  for  his  more 
adequate  accommodation.  In  September  of  the  same  year, 
however,  as  I  have  shown,  Domine  Lansing  died,  and  he 
came  into  possession  of  the  whole  house.     In  it  he  lived  till 


ERECTION   OF   PRESENT   CHURCH.  93 

late  in  1863,  when,  being  about  to  retire  from  his  charge, 
he  removed  to  the  family  homestead  at  Spring  Valley, 
where  he  died,  aged  Y9  years,  T  mouths,  and  5  days,  on  the 
30th  of  August,  1878. 

The  first  business  transaction  of  this  church  of  special 
interest  under  the  fourth  settled  pastor  was  the  erection  of 
its  present  house  of  worship.  The  church  of  1788,  which 
I  have  so  fully  described,  stood  till  1835.  Beautiful  as  it 
must  have  seemed  to  people  at  the  time  of  its  erection, 
even  to  Domine  Lansing  hiilTself  when  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  it,  every  part  of  it,  except  its  immensely 
strong  walls,  was  now  decayed  beyond  repair.  The  pastor 
saw  that  for  the  needs  and  mission  of  the  church  a  new 
house  of  worship  was  imperative.  On  first  broaching  of 
the  subject,  in  1834,  soon  after  his  return  from  Paterson, 
he  encountered  much  opposition  to  his  views.  He  said 
not  one  unnecessary  word,  but  pondered  upon  and  prayed 
over  his  subject  till  he  received  assurance  that  his  Lord 
would  be  with  him.  Then  he  preached  to  his  people  from 
the  words  of  Haggai  i.  4 :  "Is  it  time  for  you,  O  ye,  to 
dwell  in  your  ceiled  houses,  and  this  house  to  lie  waste  ?" 
His  manner  was  tender,  instructive,  and  persuasive.  The 
people  were  impressed  that  the  message  was  from  the 
Lord  and  must  be  heeded.  A  movement  was  promptly 
made,  and  in  the  spring  of  1835 '  the  work  of  building  was 
taken  up.  The  new  house  was  already  enroofed  by  the 
middle  of  September.  The  senior  pastor,  who  had  taken 
great  interest  in  it,  was  permitted  to  see  it  up  in  form 
before  he  was  called  away  to  his  rest  and  reward.  By  the 
1st  of  March,  1836,  it  was  finished.  The  heartiness  of  the 
people,  and  the  spirit  with  which  they  had  carried  the 
work  through,  were  apparent  from  the  fact  that  when  it 
was  done  they  were  ready  at  once  to  pay  for  it.  The 
whole  cost  of  the  building  proper  was  $10,000.  The  cost 
of  the  grading  and  fencing  of  the  church  lot,  and  the  added 

'  About  this  time  (June  12,  1835)  the  Consistory  sold  one-half  acre  in 
front  of  its  churchyard  to  Jacob  I.  Blauvelt  for  $275.  The  land  in- 
cluded all  that  lies  between  its  present  yard  and  the  Sparkill  Creek. 


94  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

cost  of  the  parsonage  extension,  which  had  been  made 
during  the  building  of  the  church,  increased  this  to  a  total 
of  $11,000.  In  that  day  new  churches  were  paid  for  by 
the  sale  of  their  pews.  There  were  in  this  church  118 
pews,  of  which  36  were  in  the  gallery.  The  floor  pews 
were  assessed  at  $9,300  and  the  gallery  pews  at  $1,480 
— total,  $10,Y80.  They  were  offered  at  public  sale  on  the 
17th  and  26th  days  of  March,  and  brought,  with  premiums 
bid  upon  them,  the  total  amount  of  the  church's  cost.  The 
pastor,  on  the  evening  of  the  26th,  made  this  entry  in  his 
notebook,  still  preserved  :  ' '  The  sale  of  pews  was  sufficient 
to  pay  the  whole  cost  of  the  church.  All  in  delightful 
harmony.  May  brotherly  love  continue."  The  pews  were 
sold  subject  to  a  five  and  a  half  per  cent  yearly  assessment 
on  valuation  for  the  running  support  of  the  church.  The 
Building  Committee  of  the  day  were  David  D.  Blauvelt, 
Stephen  Powles,  Tunis  Haring,  Jacob  I.  Blauvelt,  and 
John  Perry.  The  building  contractors  were  John  Haring, 
of  Old  Tappan,  carpenter,  and  William  Ackerman,  of 
New  York  City,  mason.  The  building  was  modelled 
mainly,  perhaps  exactly,  after  the  Cedar  Street  Presby- 
terian Church  of  New  York  City,  not  long  before  distin- 
guished as  the  church  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason. 
The  church  clerks  of  the  time  were,  for  the  Dutch  service, 
Samuel  G.  Verbryck,  who  had  filled  his  position  since 
1796  ;  and  for  the  English  service,  Jacob  I.  Blauvelt,  whose 
name  first  appears  in  this  connection  in  the  Consistory 
minutes  of  July  22,  1826,  but  who  had,  I  am  sure,  been 
appointed  earlier.  Mr.  Blauvelt  was  also  the  sexton  of 
the  church.  The  treasurer  was  John  S.  Verbryck.  The 
church  services,  as  already  stated,  were  held  in  the  old 
thatched  parsonage  barn  throughout  the  summer  and 
autumn  of  1835.  By  the  coming  on  of  the  cold  season  the 
new  church  was  so  far  advanced  that  the  people  could 
be  roughly  accommodated  within  its  walls.  The  Dutch 
preaching  was  continued  up  to  the  very  last  turn  for  it 
under  Domine  Lansing,  which  occurred  on  the  30th  of 
August,  1835. 
The  dedication  of  the  new  church  took  place  on  Wednes- 


ERECTION   OF   PRESENT   CHURCH.  95 

day,  the  16th  of  March,  1836.  The  winter  then  just  past 
had  been  the  winter  of  the  great  fire  in  New  York  City, 
and  it  had  been  a  winter  never  since  equalled  for  its  con- 
tinued deep  snows.  On  the  day  of  this  dedication  bare 
ground  had  not  been  seen  within  miles  of  Tappan  in  three 
months.  The  day  before  (Tuesday)  had  been  bitterly  cold. 
But  the  dedication  day  brought  with  it  an  ominously  mild 
and  genial  temperature.  The  dedication  was  an  event  to 
all  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  It  is  one  of  my  memo- 
ries that  two  hundred  and  seventy  sleighs  were  counted  at 
the  church  and  up  and  dovTn  the  roads  that  day.  The 
house  was  crowded  almost  to  crushing.  Even  the  pulpit 
was  occupied  upon  its  steps  and  floor.  The  pastor  gave  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  church's  history  from  1G94,  probably 
without  notes,  as  no  trace  of  it  can  now  be  found.  The 
Eev.  Thomas  De  Witt,  D.D.,  of  the  New  York  Collegiate 
Church,  read  the  sixth  chapter  of  Second  Chronicles,  and 
preached  the  sermon  from  Psalm  xxvi.  8.  He  also  preached 
again  in  the  evening  from  Colossians  i.  12.  The  grateful 
pastor,  in  writing  of  the  stirring  event,  made  thefollowing 
note  upon  his  book:  "We  trust  the  Lord  was  present.  It 
was  a  day  long  to  be  remembered.  May  the  Lord  fill  this 
house  with  His  glory.  May  He  bless  His  word  and  ordi- 
nances, and  preserve  them  to  the  people  in  their  purity 
from  generation  to  generation.  May  He  gather  in  multi- 
tudes of  souls  here  who  shall  praise  Him  eternally  for  His 
salvation  !" 

The  taking  down  of  the  old  church  and  the  erection  of 
the  new  one  are  almost  as  vividly  before  me  yet  as  if  going 
on  in  my  presence  at  this  moment.  The  hipped  roof, 
though  so  hopelessly  decayed,  was  a  marvel  of  tenacity 
as  to  its  old  shingles,  and  the  heavy  wrought  nails  with 
which  they  were  secured  to  the  lathing.  The  shingles 
were  not  ripped  up,  according  to  our  present  way  of  remov- 
ing a  roof,  but  the  roof  was  cut  into  large  sections  and 
hurled  in  masses  to  the  ground.  The  strong  stone  walls, 
not  less  than  two  feet  in  thickness,  were  pulled  down  with 
chains  to  which  several  yokes  of  oxen  were  attached. 
Under  the  middle  aisle  of  the  structure  was  a  vault  so  old 


96  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

that  even  Domine  Lansing  had  never  been  able  to  find  out 
its  history.  It  must,  of  course,  have  been  under  the  old 
church  of  1716,  and  lost  to  recognition  even  during  its 
period.  In  it  were  disintegrated  remains  both  of  coffins 
and  bodies.  The  contents,  as  I  remember,  were  carefully 
boxed  and  replaced  in  the  vault,  which  had  been  freshly 
walled  up,  and  no  doubt  is  in  fair  condition  under  this 
church  to-day.  In  the  old  church  this  vault  had  been 
covered  with  a  trap  door,  always  in  sight  in  its  bare  floored 
aisle,  and  had  from  time  to  time  been  freely  entered  by 
any  one  who  cared  to  examine  it.  We  used  to  wonder  to 
what  evidently  once  prominent  Tappan  or  Orange  County 
family  it  had  belonged!  It  holds  a  secret  never  to  be  solved 
till  the  end  of  time. 

In  this  connection  I  may  speak  of  the  church's  grave- 
yards at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  this  house.  The  origi- 
nal one,  probably  laid  out  at  the  building  of  the  first  church 
in  1Y16,  or  even  at  the  organization  of  the  congregation  in 
1694,  was,  as  to  limits,  the  very  enclosure  used  for  graves 
in  the  rear  of  this  house  now.  I  am  satisfied  that  every 
foot  of  ground  within  this  yard  has  been  turned  up  more 
than  once  for  graves.  There  is  a  tradition,  in  regard  to 
which  I  think  no  one  now  knows  it  as  more  than  a  tra- 
dition, that  a  hundred  soldiers  were  rudely  "buried  in 
a  heap"  in  its  northeast  corner  during  the  Revolution. 
There  were  many  more  stones  standing  in  this  yard  in 
1835  than  there  are  now.  Several  of  common  quality  have 
simply  crumbled  away.  There  are,  however,  some  of  more 
enduring  character  that  will  stand  the  test  of  many  decades 
yet  to  come.  To  the  north  of  this  yard  is  another  reserve 
of  considerable  size,  which  we  always  called  the  "  colored 
burying  ground."  In  the  days  of  the  slaves  this  had,  of 
course,  been  in  constant  demand,  but  by  1835  it  was  not 
often  opened.  The  other  graveyard,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  road,  set  apart,  as  I  have  shown,  in  1Y83,  was,  by  the 
time  of  which  I  am  speaking,  already  quite  full  of  graves. 
Since  that  time  it  has  been  extended  both  to  the  north  and 
west  by  the  taking  in  of  a  very  large  area,  this  extension 
being  one  of  the  further  items  of  church  business  during 


THE  PARSONAGE — THE  TREES.  97 

the  pastorate  period  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole.  The  New 
Cemetery,  as  this  was  called,  was  started  on  the  10th  of 
May,  1852. 

This  period,  of  course,  brought  on  several  other  matters 
of  business.  The  old  part  of  the  parsonage  was  much 
changed  interiorly  and  put  in  thorough  repair  in  1839. 
The  Building  Committee  were  Peter  Riker,  John  Perry, 
and  Isaac  Sloat.  The  cost  of  the  work  was  about  $1,680. 
It  was  in  part  met  by  the  sale  to  John  Perry,  December 
25,  1841,  for  $227,  of  the  church  land  lying  north  of  the 
"colored  burying  ground,"  l^etween  the  Piermont  road 
and  the  Sparkill  Creek,  and  extending  to  the  bridge  at  the 
Cutwater  mill ;  also  the  j)oint  of  land  lying  opposite  this, 
between  the  Greenbush  and  Piermont  roads.'  Again,  in 
1843,  a  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the  Greenbush  road  was 
leased  to  the  pastor,  who  at  once  erected  upon  it  the 
building  so  long  known  as  "The  Rockland  Academy." 
This  property,  after  his  resignation  in  1864,  was  bought 
from  him  by  the  church.  In  1847  the  old  thatched  barn, 
sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  summer  services  of  1835,  and 
especially  to  the  memory  of  Domine  Lansing's  last  service 
and  of  the  services  at  his  funeral  which  so  quickly  followed, 
was  reconstructed  in  a  more  modern  form  at  a  cost  of 
$281.47.  The  building  of  a  church  lecture  room  was  deter- 
mined upon  May  28,  1859,  and  soon  after  carried  out.  The 
building  at  first  stood  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  meeting 
of  the  Old  Tappan  and  Greenbush  roads.  A  few  years  ago, 
however,  it  was  removed  from  that  site,  and  now  stands 
at  the  rear  of  the  church. 

One  of  the  memories  of  other  days  is  of  a  profusion  of 
large  and  imposing  trees,  once  a  notable  feature  of  this  spot. 
In  the  open  lot  before  the  church  edifice,  and  also  along 
the  road  close  against  its  side,  stood  many  thrifty  poplars, 
then  in  this  region  abundant  everywhere,  but  now  hardly 
known.  But  the  glory  of  the  Church  Green  was  the  long 
row   of  plane    or    button  wood  ("sycamore"),    popularly 

*  On  the  27th  of  May,  1840,  John  V.  B.  Johnson   was  appointed 
chorister  and  sexton.     He  will  be  more  fully  noticed  under  the  next 
pastorate. 
7 


98  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

called  ''buttonball "  trees,  which  stood  on  its  west  side, 
stretching  from  the  line  of  the  Old  Tappan  road  fully  up 
to  the  site  of  the  Eockland  Academy.  Their  dense,  grate- 
ful shade  formed  a  perfect  protection  from  the  summer 
heat  for  the  many  teams  driven  to  the  church  on  days  of 
service.  The  long  lines  of  tie  posts  and  rails  on  both  sides 
of  the  road  under  these  elegant  rows  of  trees  were  always 
used  from  end  to  end  on  the  Sabbaths,  as  from  great  dis- 
tances around  every  one  in  all  the  region  attended  this 
church.  Two  only  of  those  old  trees  now  remain.  They 
are  mostly  only  a  bright  memory.  Would  it  not  be  well, 
friends  of  this  time-honored  spot,  to  provide  for  another 
growth,  that  might  become  in  a  few  years  hence  even 
more  choice  and  beautiful  than  the  first  ? ' 

SKETCH   OF   THE   PASTOR. 

As  before  in  the  case  of  Domine  Lansing,  so  again  in  the 
case  of  the  fourth  pastor,  I  commit  to  its  proper  place  in 
this  book,  with  some  modifications,  my  own  sketch  of 
him  prepared  in  ISS-i  for  Beers  &  Co.'s  "History  of  Rock- 
land County." 

Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole  was  the  first  child  and  only  son  of 
David  Cole'  and  Elizabeth  Meyer,  and  was  born  in  Rock- 

'  The  poplars  on  the  east  side  are  already  replaced  by  a  row  of  young' 
and  thriftily  growing  maples. 

^  The  Holland  name  wasKool.  After  the  surrender  of  1664  it  passed 
into  Cool.  Persistent  mispronunciation  of  it  from  the  time  of  this 
change  compelled  the  family  to  adopt  the  spelling  used  at  the  present 
time. 

The  furthest  back  Kool  ancestors  of  whom  we  have  knowledge  now 
were  Jacob  Arentsen  (Kool)  and  Aeltje  Dii'ks,  of  Amsterdam,  Hol- 
land.    They  never  came  to  this  country. 

The  first  Kool  ancestor  who  came  to  America  was  their  son,  Barent 
Jacobsen  Kool,  baptized  in  the  Nieuwe  Kerk  of  Amsterdam,  May  18, 
1610.  In  1633,  at  23  years  of  age,  he  was  an  officer  of  the  West  India 
Company  in  New  Amsterdam,  and  signed  official  documents  still 
extant.  It  is  believed  that  he  had  come  over  as  early  as  1626.  He 
married  Marretje  Leenderts.  His  family  was  one  of  nine  which 
occupied  Government  houses  on  Brugli  Straat  (Bridge  Street).  The 
New  York  Church  Records  give  him  as  still  in  the  city  in  1665.  After 
this  he  removed  to  Ulster  County,  where  his  name  is  on  public  lists  till 


REV.    ISAAC  D.    COLE.  99 

land  County  within  the  first  year  of  its  separate  existence. 
His  parents  were  both  in  Hue  from  ancestors  in  the  Tappan 
church  membership  from  its  very  earhest  days.  All  the 
intermediate  generations  had  been  connected  with  it  down 
to  1750,  and  with  the  Rockland  County  churches  of  Tap- 
pan,  Clarkstown,  and  Kakiat  most  of  them  have  been 
connefcted  down  to  the  present  time. 

1689.  From  this  date  it  can  be  no  further  traced.  He  had  nine  chil- 
dren, all  born  in  New  Amsterdam,-  Some  of  them  went  with  him  up 
the  Hudson  and  settled  in  and  around  Kingston,  where  they  have  some 
descendants  still  living  today.  One  of  the  descendants,  Cornelius  C. 
Cole,  who  died  in  1837,  was  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Rev.  Mat- 
thew N.  Oliver,  present  pastor  of  the  Tappan  church. 

His  oldest  child,  Jacob  Barentsen  Kool,  baptized  before  1639,  when 
the  New  York  Church  Records  begin,  married  Marretje  Simons.'  Both 
became  members  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Kingston,  founded  in 
1660.     They  had  eight  children. 

Their  youngest  child,  Jacob  Kool,  was  baptized  at  Kingston,  January 
1,  1678.  He  married  Barbara  Hanse  (or  Janse).  Both  united  with 
the  Tappan  church,  October  25,  1695.     They  had  six  children. 

Their  youngest  child,  Abraham  Kool,  was  baptized  by  Domine 
Bertholf,  November  2,  1707.  He  married  Annetje  Meyer,  grand- 
daughter of  Jan  Jansen  Meyer  and  Annetje  Idense  Van'  Vorst,  and 
daughter  of  Ide  Meyer  and  Geertruyt  Van  Dalssen.  Abraham  and 
Annetje  were  both  members,  and  Abraham  was  a  deacon,  of  the 
Tappan  church.     They  had  eight  children. 

The  fourth  of  these,  Isaac  Kool,  born  January  21,  1741,  married 
Catharine  Serven,  daughter  of  Abraham  Serven  and  Brechje  Smith, 
born  August  28,  1747.  Both  had  been  born  and  baptized  in  the 
Tappan  church,  and  they  were  in  due  time  married  by  a  Tappan 
pastor,  Domine  Verbryck,  October  15,  1764.  After  their  marriage 
they  settled  in  New  City  and  became  members  of  the  Clarkstown 
church.  They  had  fifteen  children,  all  born  at  New  City,  of  whom 
the  eighth,  David,  married  Elizabeth  Meyer,  daughter  of  Johannes 
Meyer,  Jr.,  and  Catharine  Van  Houten,  and  great-granddaughter  of 
Jan  Jansen  Meyer  and  Annetje  Idense  Van  Vorst.  These  had  three 
children,  of  whom  the  oldest,  and  the  only  son,  was  the  Rev.  Isaac  D 
Cole. 

This  lineage  has  been  given  so  fully  to  show  how  absolutely  the 
fourth  pastor  had  drawn  his  life  from  and  through  the  very  heart  of  the 
Tappan  church.  In  the  highest  sense  he  was  one  of  its  own  children, 
born  to  the  inheritance  to  which,  in  due  time,  he  was  so  heartily 
called. 


100  REV.    ISAAC   D.   COLE. 

David  Cole  and  Elizabeth  Meyer  removed  from  Rock- 
land County  to  New  York  City  in  1802,  and  during  their 
son's  early  childhood  gave  him  the  very  best  educational 
•advantages  the  city  enjoyed.    During  the  time  he  received 
the  benefit  of  two  years'  business  training  as  a  clerk  in 
stores.     But  the  wish  both  of  himself  and  his  parents  was 
that  he  should  be  a  scholar.     His  educational  foundation 
was  laid  in  the  most  solid  manner.     His  parents,  at  first 
in  the  Collegiate  Church  under  Dr.  Livingston,  had  united 
with  others  in  1807  in  starting  the  Northwest  or  Frank- 
lin Street  Church,  and  in  bringing  in  the  ministry  of  the 
memorable    Rev.    Christian    Bork.      In  this   church   and 
under    its    eminently  spiritual-minded    pastor    their  son 
received,  of  course,  the  very  best  pulpit  and  catechetical 
instruction,  but  his  heart  had    not  been  moved  to  any 
special  personal  concern.     In  the  summer  of  1817  he  was 
a  pupil  in  the  Greenbush  Academy,  under  the  celebrated 
Bailey,  already  mentioned.     The  influence  of  this  school 
upon  his  mind  must  have  been  of  great  value,  but,  what 
was  far  more  important,  the  spiritual  atmosphere  of  the 
place  was  powerfully  magnetic.     He  became  a  member  of 
the  Bible  class  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Thompson,    a  deeply 
spiritual-minded  pastor,    whom  I  very    well    remember. 
Soon  he  became  aroused  to  profound  concern.     On  the 
19th  of  April,  1818,  he  united  with  nearly  a  score  of  others 
in  making  a  profession  of  faith  in  the  Franklin  Street 
Church.     Yet  a  long  time  passed  before  he  attained  to 
peace  and  joy  in  believing.     One  morning  about  two  years 
after  his  profession,  during  the  progress  of  a  remarkable 
revival  of  religion  in  Rockland  County,   while  walking  in 
the  fields  in  great  distress  of  spirit,  his  load  was  suddenly 
lifted  off.     All  nature  around  him  seemed  instantly  lighted 
with  a  gorgeous  illumination.     Every  object  appeared  to 
reflect  the  glory  of  God.     The  Saviour  stood  before  him  a 
revealed  object.     The  struggle  was  over.     The  filial  feeling 
came  into  his  heart.     Almost  at  once  his  happy,  grateful 
soul  was   filled  with  longing  to  honor  God  with  every 
power  and  gift.     It  was  pressed  upon  him  that  he  could 
best  do  so  through  the  ministry  as  a  lifework.     At  once 


REV.    ISAAC    D.    COLE.  101 

he  entered  the  school  of  Mr.  John  Borland,  one  of  the  first 
standing  in  New  York  as  a  medium  for  preparation,  and 
put  himself  in  course  for  college.  How  he  was  diverted 
from  his  intention  by  repeated  attacks  of  bhndness  I  have 
already  stated.  His  subsequent  experience  revealed  that 
this  in  his  case  had  had  special  providential  significance, 
as  the  difficulty  proved  but  temporary  and  never  returned. 
His  sight  was  afterward  so  strong  and  clear  that  he  never 
used  glasses,  but  was  able  to  read  very  fine  print  without 
them  to  his  latest  day.  But  now  the  Lord  had  other  use 
for  him  for  a  few  years,  a?id  took  this  method  to  divert 
him  from  his  own  views  and  turn  him  off  to  another  line 
of  life. 

Regarding  the  failure  of  his  sight  as  a  providential  indi- 
cation that  he  was  not  called  to  the  ministry,  he  began 
again  to  inquire  what  his  Lord  would  have  him  do,  and 
was  led  to  decide  upon  the  work  of  teaching,  viewing  it 
not  alone  as  a  means  of  reaching  intellects  with  secular 
culture,  but  supremely  as  a  means  of  reaching  souls  with 
the  great  salvation.  At  about  19  years  of  age,  therefore, 
he  entered  upon  this  work,  expecting  it  to  be  a  work  for 
life.  At  first,  for  about  six  months,  he  taught  at  Tappan 
Slote,  now  Piermont.  Then  he  taught  for  a  time  in  New 
York  as  a  specialist  in  prominent  schools.  In  1821  he 
became  principal  of  a  public  school  at  Bloomingdale,  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  island,  and  in  September,  1822,  he 
started  a  school  for  himself,  which  he  continued  to  con- 
duct for  four  years,  till  he  was  at  last  permitted  to  take 
up  study  for  the  ministry  in  September,  1826. 

He  had  a  very  unusual  aptitude  and  tact  as  a  teacher. 
It  was  not  simply  his  deep  conscientiousness  in  his  work 
that  gave  him  the  success  that  was  rapidly  making  him 
noted.  It  was  a  really  wonderful  teaching  gift.  He  had 
a  rare  composure  of  spirit,  an  untiring  patience  with  the 
dullest  minds,  and  a  hearty  sympathy  with  his  pupils  in 
every  effort.  It  was  a  perfect  delight  to  him  to  succeed 
in  conveying  ideas  to  others,  and  he  was  ever  on  the  alert 
to  find  out  the  most  effective  ways  of  doing  it.  All  these 
gifts  and  peculiarities  are  remembered  yet  by  Uving  per- 


102  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

sons  who  had  the  fortune  to  be  his  pupils.  They  displayed 
themselves  with  great  couspicuousness  in  his  later  profes- 
sion, the  ministry.  The  pulpit  with  him  was  a  teaching 
desk.  A  wonderfully  clear  teacher  of  every  subject  he 
taught  when  he  presided  over  a  school,  he  was  no  less  a 
wonderfully  clear  teacher  of  the  lofty  subjects  of  the  Di- 
vine Word  when  he  became,  and  as  long  as  he  continued 
to  be,  a  preacher  in  the  pulpit.  It  is  upon  this  exceptional 
power  that  his  reputation  most  solidly  rests.  And  it  ap- 
pears clear  that  he  was  providentially  turned  aside  for  a 
few  years  after  he  first  thought  of  the  ministry,  that  in 
the  experience  of  the  school  room  he  might  most  effec- 
tively develop  this  power  to  the  prominence  it  so  early 
attained. 

In  his  teaching  days  the  spirit  that  moved  this  conscien- 
tious teacher  did  not  admit  of  confinement  of  his  responsi- 
bility to  the  school  room.  From  the  time  of  his  entrance 
on  a  life  of  decided  spiritual  peace  the  Church  of  Christ 
had  been  an  object  of  warmest  interest  to  him,  and  though 
he  did  not  hope  ever  to  reach  a  pulpit,  yet  he  gave  himself 
in  every  possible  way  to  church  interests  and  work.  He 
became  a  church  officer,  and  was  careful  in  every  way  to 
honor  and  magnify  his  office.  It  cannot  be  surprising  that 
a  spirit  thus  exercised  would  be  always  aimiug  at  higher 
things.  He  was  now  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 
The  trouble  with  the  sight  had  passed  entirely  away.  The 
drawing  to  the  ministry  came  back  with  redoubled  force. 
The  Master's  time  to  gratify  his  wish  had  come.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1826,  after  consulting  with  his  family  and  friends, 
he  disposed  of  his  school,  removed  to  New  Brunswick,  and 
spent  three  years  in  study  for  the  ministry.  The  results, 
including  his  settlement  and  life  at  Tappan,  have  been  out- 
lined in  the  preceding  part  of  our  narrative  and  need  not 
be  touched  again. 

The  early  association  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole,  first  as  an 
assistant  of,  and  then  as  a  colleague  with,  the  aged  Lan- 
sing for  several  years,  had  large  effect  upon  his  subsequent 
life  and  work.  I  have  shown  that  the  veteran  pastor 
was  a  man  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  mighty  in 


REV,    ISAAC   D.    COLE.  103 

the  Scriptures,  and  at  home  in  all  the  knowledge  essential 
to  the  ministerial  calling.     He  literally  lived  at  the  spiritual 
fountains.     His  sermons   and  conversations  were  always 
intensely  pious  and  profoundly  experimental.     The  two 
colleagues  conceived  and  maintained  the  deepest  affection 
for  each  other  ;  and  the  younger,  without  in  the  least  losing 
his  own  widely  different  individualism,  ardently  and  suc- 
cessfully studied,  and  came  insensibly  to  reflect,  the  elder's 
intensely  evangehcal  spirit.     Then,  too,  the  times  at  Tap- 
pan  had  much  to  do  with  the  formation  of  the  younger, 
and  possibly,  even  at  that  Me  period  of  his  hfe,  affected 
even  the  elder  pastor  more  than  he  himself  knew.     The 
great  church  secession  of  Bergen  County,  N.  J.,  had  oc- 
curred in  1822,  and  the  universal  and  intense  interest  in 
the  movement  and  in  the  ideas  it  involved,  and  the  sub- 
jects it  brought  to  the  front,  had  led  the  whole  country 
into  a  deep  study,  not  only  of  the  pohtico-ecclesiastical 
aspects  of  the  secession  itself,  but  also  of  the  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel  as  they  stood  related  to  the  parties,  one  of 
which  (the  seceding  party)  charged  the  other  with  sacri- 
ficing the  purity  of  the  Gospel  to  a  time-serving  policy. 
It  was  amid  an  intense  surrounding  heat  of  conflict  that 
Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole  began  his  ministry.     This  threw  him 
at  once  upon  his  best  resources,  natural  and  acquired. 
And  especially  it  drove  him  to  the  Bible  and  to  the  throne 
of  grace  for  spiritual  hght  and  strength,  that  he  might 
really  preach  Christ  and  Him  crucified,  and  bring  out  the 
whole  system  of  divine  truth  with  greater  perspicuity  and 
power.     Under  this  training,  and  under  the  fire  of  a  criti- 
cism which  was  often  more  than  simply  severe,  this  pastor 
cultivated  and  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  habit  of  comparing 
Scripture  with  Scripture,   for  which  he  became  widely 
known  and  noted  in  the  country  and  in  the  denomination. 
No  one  ever  heard  him   for  the   shortest   time,  even   in 
his  most  desultory  conversations,  without  receiving  an  in- 
dehble  impression  of  it.     It  was  carried  into  every  sermon 
and  talk  to  an  extent  and  with  a  grasp  and  control   to 
which  no  verbal  description  can  do  justice.     It  impressed 
every  hearer  with  the  feeling  that  the  pastor  had  been 


104  REV.    ISAAC   D.   COLE. 

penetrated  by  the  Holy  Spirit  with  the  very  Hfe  of  the 
Divine  Word.  And  with  this  facihty  of  comparing  and 
applying  the  Scriptures  was  connected  another  remarkable 
gift.  Owing  largely,  no  doubt,  to  the  carping  spirit  of  the 
times,  but  more  yet  to  his  natural  teaching  instincts,  he 
had  struggled  to  acquire,  and  had  succeeded  in  acquiring, 
a  habit  of  simple  speech  which  made  him,  without  sacri- 
fice of  purity  of  language,  always  intelligible  to  the  plain- 
est hearer.  Like  his  colleague,  he  never  used  a  manu- 
script in  the  pulpit.  His  manner  was  that  of  a  father 
instructing  children,  or  that  of  a  masterly  teacher  feeling 
after  and  reaching  down  to  understandings  and  hearts. 
His  words  were  always  select  and  chaste.  His  sensitive- 
ness to  the  proprieties  and  solemnities  of  the  pulpit  so  con- 
trolled him  that  he  was  never  betrayed  into  a  vulgarism. 
He  never  aimed  after  what  is  usually  known  as  pulpit 
eloquence.  Yet  at  times,  especially  in  the  perorations  of 
sermons,  when  dwelling  upon  the  joys  of  Christian  expe- 
rience or  the  prospects  of  the  children  of  God,  or  when 
dilating  upon  the  peril  of  the  neglecters  of  salvation,  he 
rose  to  an  eloquence  really  sublime.  It  carried  his  hearers 
to  a  Pisgah-top  from  which  they  could  see  over  into  the 
promised  land,  or  it  so  moved  them  at  the  thought  of  ap- 
proaching doom  that  the  effect  was  electric.  He  lived  un- 
der the  habitual  presence  of  spiritual  duty  and  work.  It 
shaped  his  life  both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  and  made  him 
what  he  was  both  in  himself  and  to  the  church. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry  at  Tappan  there  was  an 
occurrence  in  the  life  of  this  pastor  to  which  at  least  a 
passing  allusion  must  be  made,  and  as  to  which  the  sources 
of  information  about  it  must  be  indicated,  or  our  history 
would  not  be  complete.  A  dissonance  arose  in  the  church 
in  January,  1838.  It  started  with  an  influential  member 
of  the  church,  took  the  form  of  expressed  dissatisfaction 
with  the  doctrinal  preaching  of  the  pulpit,  and  soon  ex- 
tended to  a  few  others  in  the  congregation.  As  it  came  to 
an  issue  in  the  form  of  two  classical  trials  of  the  pastor 
upon  specified  charges,  in  1838  and  1810,  as  the  proceedings 
of  these  trials  are  fully  on  record  in  the  classical  minutes, 


REV.    ISAAC  D,    COLE.  105 

and  as  from  each  side  a  pamphlet  or  book  relating  to  it  was 
published,  any  one  who  desires  may  have  the  means  of 
looking  fairly  at  the  whole  controversy.     A  fuller  state- 
ment of  it  than  we  have  room  for  here  is  given  in  my 
article  in  Beers  &  Co.'s  "  History."    The  classical  trial  of 
1838  terminated  without  any  action,  in  the  hope  that  the 
parties  themselves  might  be  able  to  reach  an  adjustment. 
The  lalier  one  of  1840  resulted  in  the  dismissal  of  the 
charges  and  the  exoneration  of  the  pastor.     The  prosecut- 
ing parties  withdrew  from  the  Tappan  church,  and  left 
behind  them  an  absolutely  ftnited  congregation,    really 
strengthened  in  their  faith  and  hope.     Those  who  with- 
drew were  unquestionably  sincere  and  pious  people.     The 
controversy  broke  out,  as  I  remember,  over  holdings  of  the 
pastor  upon  some  reform  movements  of  the  day,  which 
he  regarded  as  at  variance  with  the  Scriptures  in  their 
methods.     But  in  its  progress  it  extended  to  the  distinction 
between  the  Calvinistic  and  Arminian  views  of  the  doc- 
trines of  grace.     The  pastor's  bearing  during  its  period  was 
characteristically  quiet.     Nothing  he  heard  or  saw  ever  led 
him  into  a  hasty  word.     Every  one  around  was  put  afresh 
upon  the  study  of  the  Bible,  in  concern  to  understand  the 
subjects  involved.    The  season  proved  to  have  been  one  of 
seed-sowing.     Several  were  brought  to  Christ  by  it.     The 
parties  who  withdrew  from  the  church  better  understood 
the  pastor  in  later  days  and  ranked  among   his  warmest 
friends.     The  general  result  was  his  firmer  estabhshment 
in  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the  country.     Of  course 
I  could  speak  more  at  length  upon  this  event,  but  it  is  so 
near  to  very  dear  hving  friends,  and  the  sources  of  infor- 
mation about  it  are  so  full  and  permanent  and  easy  of 
access,  that  it  is  not  desirable.     The  way  was  now  cleared 
for  a  ministerial  work  which  went  on  to  its  end  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  without  interruption.     This  experience  helped 
even  further  to  deepen  the  pastor's  care  as  to  words  and 
expressions  in  preaching.     All  the  sermons  of  his  Hf  e,  while 
reveahng  their  spring  in  the  depths  of  a  profound  spirit- 
ual experience,  also  gave  evidence  of  a  training  under  pe- 
cuhar  influences.     They  were  always  cast  into  word  and 


106  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

phrase  forms  that  ran  remarkably  clear  of  the  prejudices 
of  opinionated  and  fault-finding  people.  He  adhered  with 
studied  closeness  to  the  phraseology  of  the  Bible  itself,  with 
which  no  fault  could  be  justly  found.  He  always  spoke 
80  directl)''  to  experience  that  hearers  whose  creeds  were 
avowedly  in  striking  disagreement  with  his  own  would 
constantly  be  thanking  him  for  his  preaching  as  having 
done  them  good.  He  seemed  ever  under  direct  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  always  and  everywhere  full  of  Christ. 
Without  an  effort,  by  the  quiet  dignity  of  his  manner,  he 
effectually  kept  down  all  undue  familiarity,  and  yet,  singu- 
larly enough,  diffused  a  perfect  ease  wherever  he  went. 
His  good  judgment  in  all  directions  was  remarkable.  It 
sat  upon  him  as  part  of  his  very  nature.  His  freedom  from 
excitability  always  made  every  one  who  attacked  him 
pretty  sure  to  defeat  himself.  His  temperament  and  char- 
acter always  stood  the  severest  tests.  In  the  family,  in 
business,  in  the  councils  of  the  church,  in  his  ministerial 
relations  and  work,  he  was  the  upright  and  the  trusted 
servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  perhaps  his 
nature,  but  it  was  more  yet  his  religion,  to  deal  justly  with 
his  fellow-men  to  the  very  smallest  matter  of  personal  obli- 
gation. And  his  heart  was  large  and  broad  in  regard  to 
the  great  duty  and  privilege  of  Christian  liberality  with  his 
means.  He  abhorred  selfishness  in  all  its  manifestations, 
and  believed  in  and  practised  good  works  as  the  fruits  of  a 
living  faith.  He  sought  to  be,  and  was,  a  noble  illustration 
of  a  believer  in  Christ,  living  the  life  of  faith  upon  the  Son 
of  God,  and  acting  out  that  life  in  all  his  walk  and  conver- 
sation for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men. 

On  the  16th  of  August,  1863  (Sabbath  day),  at  4  a.m.,  his 
wife,  Anna  Maria  Shatzel,  who  had  been  from  November 
23,  1821,  the  sharer  of  his  experience  and  an  admirable 
supporter  of  all  his  way  and  helper  in  all  his  work,  went 
home,  just  as  the  sun  was  rising,  to  the  eternal  rest  and 
joy  of  heaven.  And  three  weeks  later  to  a  day  occurred 
the  further  death  of  his  oldest  daughter,  Caroline,  Mrs. 
James  J.  Stephens.  Both  left  behind  them  the  strongest 
evidence  that  they  had  only  gone  away  to  be  with  Christ. 


HEV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE.  107 

Their  remains  were  committed  to  the  tomb  with  an  un- 
wavering faith  in  the  glorious  immortahty.  But  the  two 
strokes  in  such  quick  succession  had  the  effect  of  depressing 
the  heart  of  the  pastor,  now  advanced  in  years.  For  some 
time  before  he  had  been  feehng  unequal  to  needed  pastoral 
work,  and  had  been  thinking  of  giving  up  his  charge. 
Upon  prayerful  consideration,  after  these  deaths,  he  ten- 
dered "his  resignation  to  his  Consistory  during  the  fall  of 
1863,  and  on  the  9th  of  February,  1864,  the  connection 
between  himself  and  the  church  he  had  served  for  thirty- 
four  years  was,  by  classical  sUtt,  dissolved.  At  once  upon 
tendering  his  resignation  he  had  removed  to  Spring  Valley 
and  settled  upon  a  farm  which  he  had  inherited  from  his 
father  a  few  years  before,  and  upon  which  he  had  then 
recently  erected  a  very  pleasant  dwelling,  intending  to 
make  it  his  future  earthly  home.  Here  after  a  time  he 
married  again.  His  second  wife  was  Harriet  J.  Bronson, 
widow  of  Rev.  Peter  Allen,  formerly  pastor  of  the  West 
Hempstead  (or  "Brick")  church.  After  a  season  of  rest 
and  diversion  upon  the  farm,  he  again  assumed  for  a  time 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  not  as  a  pastor,  but  as  a  supply 
of  the  then  vacant  Presbyterian  church  of  West  Hemp- 
stead. This  engagement  continued  two  years.  During 
the  rest  of  his  life  he  continued  to  officiate  in  pulpits  upon 
request,  as  long  as  his  strength  continued,  but  never  again 
assumed  official  relation  with  any  church. 

His  life  at  Spring  Valley  was  marked  by  the  same  charac- 
teristics which  had  marked  it  in  Tappan.  And  here,  as  age 
increased,  he  ripened  into  a  maturity  of  Christian  knowledge 
and  strength  which  became  to  the  general  feeling  of  all 
who  knew  him  a  gathering  glory.  His  expei-ience  in  old 
age  was  appointed  to  be  an  afflictive  one.  His  new  part- 
ner, about  six  years  after  their  marriage,  was  stricken 
down  with  a  severe  and  wasting  fever  which  left  her 
spinally  affected.  After  five  years  of  suffering  she  died  on 
the  27th  of  August,  1875.  This  was  further  trial  for  the 
ripening  man  of  God.  But  the  trust  was  ready.  It  had 
been  growing  vigorously  for  more  than  half  a  century,  and 
it  did  not  falter  here.     The  close  of  his  own  life,  however, 


108  REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE. 

was  not  far  away.  His  last  years  were  distinguished  as 
years  of  earnest  interest  in  the  work  of  his  Master  in 
Spring  Valley.  The  people  knew  they  had  among  them  a 
tower  of  spiritual  strength.  The  pastors  of  the  churches 
realized  that  they  had  at  hand  a  strong  supporter,  de- 
fender, and  friend.  The  prayer  meeting  of  the  Eeformed 
church  was  regularly  enriched  with  his  presence,  prayers, 
and  experimental  addresses.  Its  pulpit  was  often  occupied 
by  him,  and  never  more  to  the  satisfaction  of  its  people. 
He  often  administered  its  ordinances,  and  at  its  communion 
table  he  was  again  and  again  the  means  of  lifting  the 
worshippers  into  liveliest  communion  with  the  Redeemer. 
His  walks  through  the  village  were  always  hailed  as  an 
omen  of  good,  as  they  betokened  a  round  of  kindly  calls, 
with  which  long  familiarity  had  taught  the  people  that 
spiritual  blessing  was  sure  to  come.  And  amid  such  blessed 
living  and  blessed  doing  the  life  of  the  aged  minister  of 
Christ  drew  near  to  its  earthly  end.  In  the  month  of  July, 
18Y8,  he  was  seized  with  his  last  illness.  For  five  weeks, 
till  August  30,  he  was  confined  to  his  bed,  and  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  his  life  through  these  weeks  was  an 
experience  of  continuous  dying.  His  exercises  during  this 
time  were  intensely  spiritual.  He  spoke  but  little,  but 
what  he  did  say  was  in  full  keeping  with  his  life.  It  was 
one  constant  outgiving  of  Bible  passages,  logically  con- 
nected and  directed  to  some  clear  end.  To  each  of  his 
children  and  grandchildren,  and  to  every  friend  who  called 
to  see  him,  he  gave  his  special  line  of  instruction,  in  every 
case  woven  from  the  words  of  divine  inspiration,  with 
which  his  own  soul  was  so  powerfully  vitalized.  The  dy- 
ing was  wonderfully  true  to  the  living.  There  was  much 
suffering  connected  with  it,  but  it  carried  the  word  with  it 
faithfully  all  the  way  to  the  end. 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  the  residence  in  Spring 
Valley  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  September  2,  and 
again  in  the  church  at  Tappan  on  the  morning  of  the  next 
day.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Mack,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  West  Hempstead,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Van  Pelt, 
pastor  of  the  family  and  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Spring 


REV.    ISAAC   D.    COLE.  109 

Valley,  officiated  od  Monday;  and  on  Tuesday  the  services 
were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt,  repre- 
senting the  Tappan  church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Duryea, 
representing  the  Classis  of  Paramus,  the  Rev.  James  Dema- 
rest,  Sr.,  representing  the  New  Brunswick  Seminary  Class 
of  1829,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  D.  Demarest,  Professor  in 
the  s^me  Seminary,  representing  the  Church  at  large,  and 
also  the  early  pupils  of  the  departed  pastor,  of  whom  Dr. 
Demarest  was  one.  After  the  latter  services,  the  remains, 
borne  by  six  ministerial  brethren,  were  carried  to  their 
resting  place  in  the  Tappan  cemetery,  where  those  of  Do- 
mines  Muzelius,  Verbryck,  and  Lansing  had  been  interred 
before.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  remains  of  all  the 
regular  pastors  of  this  church  during  its  two  hundred 
years  who  have  even  yet  died  lie  in  its  own  churchyards. 
The  pastorates  of  the  four  covered  a  period  extending 
from  1724:  to  1864 — in  all  one  hundred  and  forty  years. 
Their  lengths  were  respectively  twenty-five,  thirty-four, 
fifty-one,  and  thirty-four  years.  The  last  two  ran  side  by 
side  for  six  years,  and  there  was  not  in  the  entire  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  years  an  aggregate  of  vacancies  amount- 
ing to  two  years.  Few  churches  have  reached  a  bi-cen- 
tennial  day  with  such  a  record  of  pastorates  as  this! 


EEV.    GEORGE  M.    S.   BLAUVELT. 
{Fifth  Pastor.) 

FEBRUARY,    1864— FALL  OF    1882. 

The  periods  of  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  (present) 
pastors,  covering  the  last  thirty  years,  remain  to  be 
sketched.  These  pastors  are  all  living.  The  time  has  not 
yet  come  to  speak  much  of  them  as  personal  subjects. 
Their  lineage  and  statistics,  however,  and  the  progress  of 
the  church  under  their  pastorates,  must  be  given  to  make 
our  history  complete. 

The  fifth  settled  pastor  was  the  Rev.  George  Mancius 
Smedes  Blauvelt.  He  entered  on  his  charge  in  February, 
1864,  about  fourteen  months  before  the  close  of  our  civil 
war.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rev.  William  Warren  Blau- 
velt, D.D.,  of  Lamington,  N.  J.,  and  in  direct  line  from 
Johannes  Blauvelt,'  one  of  the  sixteen  original  patentees 
of  the  Tappan  patent,  and  one  of  the  five  of  their  number 

'  With  utmost  effort  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  trace  the  line  of 
this  Johannes  Blauvelt  backward.  The  furthest  back  person  of  his 
surname  I  find  on  any  record  is  Captain  William  Blauvelt,  witness  at  a 
New  York  baptism,  November  18,  1646.  I  cannot  connect  the  latter 
in  any  direction.  Rev.  Mr.  Blauvelt  himself,  in  answer  to  a  letter  of 
inquiry,  has  written  me  the  following  note  : 

' '  (There  is  a  tradition)  that  the  family  was  Huguenot,  and  moved 
from  Prance  to  Rotterdam  some  time  before  the  general  emigration 
after  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  (October  22,  1685)  ;  also, 
that  the  original  name  was  Blivelt,  a  name  which  still  survives  in 
France,  there  being  a  Blivelt  Bay.  A  Blivelt  was  a  noted  buccaneer, 
whose  name  survives  in  translated  form  in  the  name  'Bluefields,' 
which  has  lately  been  much  seen  in  the  newspapers  in  connection 
with  tlie  Nicaragua  troubles.  There  are  said  to  be  Blauvelts  still  in 
Holland." 

This  tradition  is  interesting,  but  presents  several  difficulties  to  an 


'^ea.  M.-/  Sr'au^veU. 


REV.    GEORGE   M.    S.    BLAUVELT.  Ill 

who  gave  the  parsonage  glebe  of  55  acres  and  the  wood- 
land tract  of  42  acres  to  the  church,  October  13,  1Y29.  He 
was  born  at  Lamington,  December  8,  1832,  was  graduated 
from  the  New  York  University  in  1830  and  from  Princeton 
Seminary  in  1853,  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Passaic  September  21,  and  was  pastor  of  Presbyterian 
churcl^es  successively  at  Chester,  N.  J.,  Eacine,  Wis.,  and 
Lyons  Farms,  N.  J.,  from  1853  to  1804.  In  the  latter  year 
he  received  his  call  to  Tappan,  and  accepted  it  in  Classis 
February  9.     In  the  fall  of  18§2,  after  a  Tappan  pastorate 

expert  in  Holland  names.  It  is  enough  for  me  here,  however,  to  say 
that  I  cannot  yet  trace  the  line  of  Johannes  Blauvelt  backward.  He 
and  his  wife  are  entered  on  the  earliest  Tappan  church  records  as  Jo- 
hannes Blauvelt  and  Catje  (Katie)  Cornelise,  and  on  the  Orangetown 
census  of  1702  as  Johannes  Gerritse  and  Cathrin  his  wife. 

I  am  confident  that  we  have  here  simply  another  case  of  the  usual 
Holland  formula,  already  illustrated,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  cases  of 
Samuel  Gerritsen  (Verbryck)  and  Barent  Jacobsen  (Kool).  Johannes 
Gerritse  means  Johannes,  son  of  Gerrit.  He  was  popularly  known 
as  Johannes  Gerritse,  but  in  the  legal  document  (the  patent  of  1686) 
which  first  introduces  him  to  us  he  was  compelled  to  append  the  sur- 
name that  had  before  that  date  been  assumed  by  his  family.  On  the 
early  Tappan  records  appear  also  Abram  Gerritse  Blauvelt  and  Grietje- 
Miunelay,  who  had  been  married  in  New  York,  April  8,  1691,  and  en- 
tered on  record  as  Abi^am  Gerritse  and  Grietje  Minne.  Perhaps,  and 
probably,  Johannes  Gerritse  and  Abram  Gerritse  (both  Blauvelts,  as 
we  see)  were  brothers,  sons  of  Gerret  (Blauvelt=Bluefield),  who  may 
never  have  come  to  this  country.  These  things  seem  curious  to  people 
to  whom  they  are  new.  I  can  throw  no  further  light  on  our  case  in 
hand  now. 

I  know  of  two  sons  of  Johannes  Blauvelt  and  Katie  Cornelise — Isaac 
(the  older),  whose  baptism  has  not  yet  been  found,  and  Abraham,  en- 
tered at  Hackensack  as  baptized  December  13,  1696. 

Isaac  is  in  line  to  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Meyer,  daughter  of  Jan  Jansen  (on  the  church  books  simply 
Johannes)  Meyer  and  Aunetje  Idense  Van  Vorst,  and  baptized  at  Tap- 
pan,  June  1,  1695.  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  were  married  at  Tappan,  Oc- 
tober 14,  1714. 

Their  son  Johannes  Blauvelt,  born  July  22,  1715,  married  Helena 
Pullen,  date  unknown.  These  had  four  sons  :  Isaac,  born  1750  ;  Cor- 
nelius, born  July  17,  1756  ;  Timothy,  born  April  5,  1762  ;  and  Abra- 
ham, born  May  8,  1764.  Timothy  was  graduated  at  Queens  (now 
Rutgers)    College    in    1782,    Isaac  in  1783,   and    Abraham    in  1789, 


112  REV.    GEORGE   M.    S.    BLAUVELT. 

of  more  than  eighteen  years,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Reformed  church  of  Easton,  Pa.,  and,  after  a  service  in  that 
church  till  1890,  left  it  for  the  pastorate  of  the  Reformed 
church  of  Six  Mile  Run  (now  Franklin  Park),  N.  J.,  which 
he  still  holds  to-day. 

Rev.  Mr.  Blauvelt,  when  he  settled  at  Tappan  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  had  with  him  his  wife,  Sarah  A.  Holmes, 
daughter  of  Obadiah  Holmes,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  whom 
he  had  married  in  1859,  and  two  little  sous,  Frank  and 
Wilham  Hutton.      After  little  more  than  four  months, 

Timothy  and  Isaac  became  ministers  in  Reformed  churches.  Isaac 
lived  to  about  90  years  of  age,  having  held  charges  at  Fishkill  and 
Hopewell,  Paramus  and  Saddle  River.  Timothy  lived  to  preach  but 
one  sermon  in  public,  which,  however,  is  said  to  have  been  instru- 
mental in  the  conversion  of  one  of  his  hearers. 

Abraham,  the  third  son,  is  in  line  to  our  subject.  After  his  gradua- 
tion in  1789  he  remained  in  New  Brunswick,  became  the  proprietor  of 
The  Neiv  Brunswick  Guardian,  now  The  Neiv  Brunsivich  Times, 
and  was  also  a  bookseller  and  publisher  in  the  city.  In  1810  he  pub- 
lished Van  Harlingen's  translation  of  "  Vanderkemp  on  the  Heidel- 
berg Catechism."  He  married  Jane  Scott,  daughter  of  Dr.  Moses 
Scolt  (Surgeon-General  on  Washington's  staff)  and  Anna  Johnson,  and 
sister  of  the  late  Col.  Joseph  Warren  Scott,  a  famous  lawyer  of  New 
Brunswick.  He  became  a  trustee  of  Queens  College  in  1800,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  which  erected  in  1809  the  edifice 
known  as  Queens  College,  and  still  standing  among  the  later  build- 
ings, the  central  figure  of  the  campus.  Three  of  his  sons,  Cornelius  S., 
William  Warren,  and  Isaac  Alstyne,  were  graduated  from  Queens 
College,  respectively  in  1810,  1814,  and  1828. 

Of  these  three  sons.  Rev.  William  Warren  Blauvelt,  D.D.,  was 
born  in  New  Brunswick,  June  25,  1800.  After  graduating  in  1814, 
he  spent  several  years,  first  in  the  study  of  law,  then  in  teaching 
schools,  and  later  as  Professor  of  Languages  in  Hampden  Sydney  Col- 
lege, Va.  In  1825  he  was  graduated  from  the  New  Brunswick  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  and  in  1826  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Lamington,  N.  J.  In  this  pastorate,  after  sixty  two  years 
more,  he  died  in  1888.  He  married  Anna  Maria  Hutton,  sister  of  the 
late  Rev.  Mancius  S.  Hutton,  D.D.,  of  New  York  City,  and  grand- 
daugliter  of  Domine  Mancius  of  our  Reformed  church  of  more  than  a 
hundred  years  ago.  These  were  the  parents  of  Rev.  George  M.  S. 
Blauvelt.  Another  of  their  sons,  Isaac  Alstyne  Blauvelt,  also  became 
a  minister.  He  has  been  pastor  for  many  years  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Roselle,  N.  J. 


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REV.    GEORGE  M.    S.    BLAUVELT.  113 

Mrs.  Blauvelt  died  on  the  11th  of  June  of  cerebro-spinal 
meningitis.  While  she  was  ill  (such  were  the  demands  of 
the  war  times)  her  husband  was  drafted  for  service  in  the 
army.  The  people  promptly,  and  wholly  of  their  own  mo- 
tion, arose  at  once  in  his  behalf  and  raised  $525,  which  was 
added  by  the  Consistory  to  the  quota  from  the  county  and 
applied  to  the  procural  of  a  substitute.  After  the  death  of 
Mrs.  felauvelt,  Mrs.  Blake,  a  widowed  sister  of  the  pastor, 
took  charge  of  his  home  and  children  for  about  two  years. 
In  September,  1866,  he  married  his  present  wife,  Jane  E. 
Hedges,  daughter  of  Henry  fledges  of  his  first  charge  at 
Chester,  N.  J.  In  the  following  years  three  daughters, 
Mary  Hedges,  Anna  Gertrude  and  Ehzabeth  Hedges, 
were  added  to  the  family  at  the  parsonage.  Of  the  five 
children,  Frank,  the  oldest,  died  of  typhoid  pneumonia  at 
Tappan,  February,  1879.  His  remains  are  among  the 
treasures  of  the  Tappan  cemetery.  William  Hutton  is  a 
metallurgical  engineer  in  Montana,  and  has  a  wife  and  in- 
fant child.  Mary  and  Anna  reside  with  their  parents,  and 
Elizabeth  is  a  student  at  Bryn  Mawr. 

The  business  of  the  church  and  its  temporal  and  spiritual 
history  during  this  pastorate  must  be  noted.  A  portion  of 
the  parsonage  property  north  of  the  large  new  cemetery 
was  sold  to  Dr.  Isaac  Bartow,  May  31,  1864.  In  1872  the 
pipe  organ  was  purchased,  and  the  necessary  changes  in 
the  building  for  its  setting,  back  of  the  pulpit,  were  made, 
the  total  cost  being  about  $2,000,  which  was  met  at  once. 
In  1871:  the  sum  of  $800  was  expended  in  frescoing  and 
otherwise  redressing  the  interior  of  the  church.  Large 
and  expensive  improvements  were  also  made  to  the  par- 
sonage, rendering  it  in  all  respects  a  beautiful  and  comfort- 
able home.  It  was  during  this  pastorate  that  the  Jersey 
City  &  Albany  Railroad  Company  was  formed  and  began 
work.  The  church  sold  to  the  company  so  much  of  its 
roadway  through  the  parsonage  glebe  as  it  needed,  also  a 
site  for  its  Tappan  station,  for  $1,000,  and  leased  to  it  besides 
for  ninety-nine  years  an  added  portion  on  which  the  com- 
pany was  to  pay  $60  per  year.  This  project  excited  in 
Tappan  great  hopes  of  a  rapidly  increasing  population. 


114  REV.    GEORGE  M.    S.    BLAUVELT. 

These  hopes,  however,  proved  vain.  The  begun  work  was 
soon  stopped,  and  the  road  lay  idle  for  years.  Later,  but 
not  during  this  pastorate,  it  was  resumed,  and  at  last  went 
into  operation  as  the  West  Shore  Railroad.  Of  course  the 
$60  has  been  paid  to  the  church  every  year,  but  even  the 
road  now  enjoyed  by  the  village  has  never  contributed  to 
the  growth  of  the  village  in  an  appreciable  degree. 

The  church  was  well  attended  during  the  eighteen  years 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Blauvelt.  It  was  at  one  time  noted  for  the 
large  number  of  young  men  attending  its  services.  After 
the  commercial  depression  of  1872  the  exigencies  of  busi- 
ness drew  many  of  them  away  to  other  places.  Death, 
too,  removed  many  older  and  very  important  people,  whose 
places  were  not  all  refilled.  But  the  church  held  up  finan- 
cially. It  was  greatly  prosperous,  as  has  been  shown  above 
by  the  work  it  carried  out.  But  gradual  changes  took 
place  in  the  surrounding  population.  Purchasers  of  farms 
came  in  who  had  no  knowledge  of  the  church  and  no  inte- 
rest in  it.  Some  of  them  had  no  interest  in  any  church,  or 
even  in  religion.  And  so  in  the  later  days  of  this  pastorate 
the  attendance  upon  the  church,  and  of  course  its  income, 
diminished.  New  churches,  too,  were  started  within  com- 
paratively short  distances  away,  and  before  the  pastor  left 
in  1882  he  noticed  that  the  church  had  parted  with  at  least 
some  of  the  strength  it  had,  during  most  of  his  time,  so 
happily  enjoyed. 

In  regard  to  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  congregation 
under  his  ministry,  I  have  asked  Rev.  Mr.  Blauvelt  to  give 
me  his  own  impression,  and  I  can  do  nothing  better  than 
to  quote  some  of  his  own  words  in  reply : 

"  The  most  striking  characteristic  of  the  church  was  the  in- 
doctrination of  the  people  and  their  great  attachment  to  the 
Reformed  system  of  faith.  The  thorough  teaching  of  the  Rev. 
Isaac  D.  Cole,  who  had  so  faithfully  and  for  so  many  years 
labored  in  giving  the  solid  ineat  of  the  Word,  and  also  certain 
doctrinal  controversies  with  which  the  community  had  been 
agitated  and  in  which  they  had  been  interested,  had  resulted  in 
developing  very  clear  and  pronounced  convictions  on  the  impor- 


REV.    GEORGE   M.    S.    BLAUVELT.  115 

tant  and  fundamental  truths  of  the  Scriptures.  The  adherents 
of  the  original  secession  movement,  and  also  those  of  the  later 
secession  from  the  secession,  were  still  to  be  found  in  the  region, 
and  doctrinal  controversy  shared  fully  in  the  minds  of  many 
with  the  exciting  political  discussions  of  the  time.  Consequent 
upon  this  a  very  strong  conservatism  of  thought  and  action  in 
religious  matters  prevailed,  and  on  the  part  of  some  there  was 
disposition  to  criticise  any  special  ejfforts  in  the  line  of  evan- 
gelization, as  having  an  appearance  of  endeavor  to  interfere 
with  what  was  regarded  as  the  Lord's  o^vn  special  work.  But 
a  season  of  refreshing  in  1868  and  18G9,  through  which  the 
church  was  greatly  enlivened  and  strengthened,  removed  this 
extreme  conservatism.  At  this  time  a  considerable  number  of 
young  men  made  confession  of  their  faith,  with  many  others. 
All  the  young  men  were  speedily  found  taking  active  part  in 
the  prayer  meetings,  giving  them  a  life  and  interest  which  I 
hold  in  grateful  remembrance  to  this  day.  From  beginning  to 
end  in  these  meetings  the  interest  never  flagged.  It  was  not 
unusual  within  the  hour  to  have  ten  prayers  in  addition  to  the 
frequent  singing  and  exhortations. 

"  With  a  very  large  portion  of  the  people  religion  was  a  great 
reality,  the  greatest  of  all  real  things.  Its  gracious  fruits  were 
apparent.  How  well  I  remember  the  signs  of  God's  faithful- 
ness to  His  promises!  What  soul-satisfying  interviews  I  had 
with  the  sick!  What  glorious  deathbeds  I  witnessed!  Often 
I  came  home  from  my  visits  to  scenes  near  which  the  death 
angel  was  hovering,  exclaiming:  '  I  wish  I  could  have  had 
Robert  Ingersoll  with  me  to-day,  to  hear  and  see  what  I  have 
heard  and  seen.  I  would  have  demanded  that  he  should  explain 
it!'  The  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  ever  ^\dth  His  truth. 
Scepticism  would  be  impossible  to  any  one  who  could  see  and 
hear  what  I  saw  and  heard  in  my  pastoral  work  in  the  Tappan 
church." 

So  lovingly  speaks  the  pastor  of  years  ago  of  his  Tappan 
life  and  people,  and  then  he  adds  the  following  tender 
words  in  regard  to  the  changes  by  death.  They  form  a 
fitting  close  to  our  account  of  his  pastorate  of  eighteen 
years: 

"Many  and  great  were  these.     A  lady  relative  who  was 


116  REV.    GEORGE  M.    S.    BLAUVELT. 

present  at  my  installation,  noticing  the  number  of  aged  people 
in  the  audience,  said  to  me:  'You  will  have  many  funerals 
here.'  And  this  proved  true.  The  fathers  and  mothers  dropped 
off.  Seats  became  empty  in  the  church,  and  the  cemetery  was 
filling.  But  the  departing  did  not  go  away  without  leaving 
behind  them  a  lustre  like,  but  more  enduring  than,  that  of  the 
star  which  shoots  across  the  heavens.  We  know  that  they 
have  only  gone  before.  The  old  church  rolls  hold  the  names  of 
many  who,  if  you  do  not  find  them  in  their  homes  to-day,  will 
be  found  by  us  when  we  visit  them  in  their  mansions  above." 


.-•.  -^^fe»^ 


Hc^a/i    /fx/£L.,t.oeru^  . 


REV.   W.   HALL  WILLIAMSON. 
*  {Sixth  Pastor.) 

JULY,    1883— DECEMBER,    1889. 

This  pastor  was  not,  likfe  the  fourth  and  fifth,  from 
the  Tappan  church  as  to  hneage.  But  he  was  from  Re- 
formed Church  ancestries,  through  both  of  his  parents, 
from  the  furthest  back  date  of  the  denomination.  He  is 
a  son  of  Isaac  Van  Doren  WiUiamson  and  Maria  Louisa 
Schenck.'    Parents  and  son  were  born  in  Somerset  County, 

'  The  Williamson  family  is  of  Holland  descent.  They  have  resided 
for  several  generations  withiu  the  bounds  of  the  Reformed  congrega- 
tion of  Neshanic,  N.  J.,  the  old  family  homestead  being  still  in° their 
possession.  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson's  great-gi-andfather,  Cornelius  Wil- 
liamson, and  his  wife,  Magdalene  Hall,  a  daughter  of  Carpenter  Hall, 
of  English  ancestry,  were  born  there,  the  former  September  18,  1776, 
and  the  latter  February  29,  1778.  Their  son,  William  H.  Williamson,' 
born  August  20,  1802,  married,  February  4,  1826,  Eliza  Van  Doren', 
daughter  of  Captain  Van  Doren,  born  March  25,  1809.  The  former- 
died  April  1,  1871,  the  latter  September  4,  1850.  These  had  nine  chil- 
dren. Their  son  Isaac  Van  Doren  Williamson  was  born  November 
9,  1829.  He  married  Maria  Louisa  Schenck,  December  26,  1850.  He 
died  in  New  Brunswick,  April  2,  1872.  These  were  the  parents  of  the 
sixth  pastor  of  the  Tappan  church. 

Maria  Louisa  Schenck,  still  living,  is  a  daughter  of  Gilbert  Schenck 
and  Rachel  Van  Liew. 

The  oldest  Schenck  ancestor  now  knowai  was  Peter  Schenck,  born 
at  Gosh,  Holland,  1547.  He  married  Johanna  Van  Scherpenzeel  at 
Doesburgh,  May  17,  1580.  Their  son  Martin,  born  in  Holland,  arrived 
in  New  Netherland  June  28,  1650  His  son  Roelof  was  the  first 
American-born  ancestor  of  the  family.  He  settled  at  Flatlands,  L.  I. 
His  son  Garret  Roelofsen  Schenck  removed  from  Flatlands  to  Pleasant 
Valley,  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.,  and  his  son  Garret  Schenck  settled 
near  Ringoes,  Hunterdon  County.  Here  was  born.  May  26,  1750, 
Captain  John  Schenck,  who  became  an  officer  in  the  American  Revolu- 
tion.    He  married  Ida  Sutphen.     He  died  March  28,  1818.     These  were 


118  REV.    W.    HALL   WILLIAMSON. 

New  Jersey,  and  were  brought  up  in  the  church  of  Ne- 
shanic  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gabriel  Lud- 
low. The  son  was  born  at  Flaggtown,  April  26,  1855,  and 
baptized  by  Dr.  Ludlow,  January  26, 1856.  The  very  same 
year  his  parents  removed  to  Fair  view.  111.,  where  they 
remained  till  1860.  Then  they  returned  to  New  Jersey, 
took  up  their  home  in  New  Brunswick,  and  resided  there 
twenty-one  years.     The  father  died  there  April  2,  1872. 

Mr.  Williamson  attended  the  public  school  of  New 
Brunswick  till  1868,  and  later  the  Grammar  School  of 
Rutgers  College.  He  was  graduated  from  the  college  in 
1873,  and  followed  civil  engineering  till  1876.  In  this  year 
he  experienced  conversion  during  a  revival.  Then,  having 
taught  two  years  at  Neshanic,  he  entered  the  New  Bruns- 
wick Theological  Seminary,  was  graduated,  and  licensed  to 
the  ministry  in  1881.     At  once  he  became  pastor  of  the 

the  parents  of  Gilbert  Schenck,  who  married  Rachel  Van  Liew, 
February  7,  1816. 

The  Van  Liew  family  is  also  very  old.  Frederick  Van  Liewen,  son  of 
Hendrick  Van  Liewen  of  Holland  (but  of  French  extraction),  was 
the  first  American  ancestor.  He  settled  in  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  in  1670. 
He  married  in  1715  Helena  Denice,  daughter  of  Jacques  Denice,  of  The 
Narrows,  L.  I.,  whose  wife  was  probably  a  daughter  of  Jacques  Cortel- 
you,  who  settled  in  New  Utrecht  in  1652  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
American  Cortelyou  family.  Jacques  Denice  was  a  ferryman  at  The 
Narrows,  and  lost  his  life  by  drowning. 

Frederick  Van  Liew  moved  (date  not  known)  to  New  Jersey  and 
became  the  largest  land-owner  in  Franklin  Township,  Somerset  County. 
He  died  November  27,  1756,  and  his  wife,  Helena  Denice,  March  6, 
1784,  aged  84  years.  Their  son  Johannes  Van  Liew  was  born  at  the 
old  homestead,  April  13,  1736.  He  married  Dorothy  Lott,  June  16, 
1759,  and  died  October  9,  1813.  Their  son  Dennis  Van  Liew  was  born 
April  25,  1764.  He  moved  to  Clover  Hill,  N.  J.,  in  1794.  He  married, 
January  1,  1789,  Mary  Suydam,  born  January  19,  1773.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Neshanic  church  many  years.  These  were  the  parents  of 
Rachel  Van  Liew,  born  May  31,  1795,  and  also  of  the  Rev.  John  Van 
Liew,  D.D.,  a  Reformed  Church  minister  for  half  a  century,  and  pas- 
tor for  forty- three  years  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Readington,  N.  J. 

This  tracing  shows  that  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson,  like  all  the  Tappan 
pastors,  was  throughout  on  all  sides  of  Reformed  Church  descent. 


REV.    W.    HALL   WILLIAMSON.  119 

Eeformed  church  of  Annandale,  N.  J.  On  the  2d  of  July- 
he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  Tappan,  and  was  in- 
stalled there  July  19.  On  the  following  6th  of  December 
he  married  Miss  A.  Jeanette  Barnes  at  Somerville,  N.  J. 
In  his  summer  vacation  of  1889  he  visited  the  West.  In 
the  autumn  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Reformed 
chui;ch  of  Irving  Park,  111.,  now  part  of  Chicago.  There 
he  was  installed  December  1.  In  1892  he  received  repeated 
calls  to  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Grand  Rapids.  At 
first  he  declined,  but  finally^accepted,  and  was  installed  on 
the  1st  of  May.  Here  he  has  been  greatly  successful,  hav- 
ing already  received  in  two  years  96  members,  61  of  them 
by  profession.  A  new  church  has  been  built  for  him.  It 
was  dedicated  September  9,  189-1.  The  General  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Church  will  hold  its  session  of  1895  in  this 
new  building. 

As  before  remarked,  I  cannot  give  personal  sketches  of 
the  ministers  who  yet  live.  But  I  can  give  their  work  and 
let  it  speak  for  itself. 

The  incidents  of  this  short  pastorate  were  not  numerous, 
but  some  of  them  are  very  interesting,  and  one  of  them, 
the  revival  of  1884,  is  of  precious  memory.  A  new  church 
bell  was  presented  to  the  church  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salinus 
Conklin  in  1885,  and  the  lecture  room  was  moved  over 
from  its  first  position  in  the  angle  between  the  Old  Tappan 
and  Greenbush  roads  to  its  present  place  behind  the  church 
building.  The  pastor  and  his  wife  spent  a  few  weeks  in 
Europe  in  1888. 

The  death  of  Captain  John  V.  B.  Johnson,"  the  chorister 

'He  was  a  son  of  Arthur  Johusou  and  Ann  Van  Blarcom,  for  seve- 
ral years  owners  of  the  Washington  Headquarters.  He  was  i-eceived 
into  the  cliurch  by  profession  June  6,  1838,  and  elected  a  deacon  Octo- 
ber 19,  1839.  For  many  years  he  held  the  double  office  of  sexton  and 
chorister,  these  offices  having,  down  to  this  date,  always  gone  together 
in  the  history  of  the  church.  He  was  Sunday-School  Superintendent 
also  for  a  long  period.  Under  hiin  the  first  musical  instrument  was 
introduced  into  the  church,  and  under  him  came  in  at  last  the  present 
pipe  organ.  His  life  in  the  church  and  county  was  one  of  great  activ- 
ity and  he  was  widely  known. 


120  REV.    W.    HALL  WILLIAMSON. 

of  the  church  since  May  27,  1840,  occurred  August  4, 1883. 
He  had  held  his  office  forty-three  years. 

The  revival  of  1884  was  the  great  occurrence  of  this  pas- 
torate. It  began  in  Piermont.  The  Tappan  church  held 
preaching  services  in  its  lecture  room  every  evening  from 
the  middle  of  February  to  the  1st  of  April,  Rev.  William 
C.  Stitt,  Rev.  Peter  Van  Buskirk,  and  other  ministers  assist- 
ing. Forty-five  members  were  added  at  the  April  commu- 
nion. Whole  families  came  together.  There  were  cases 
in  which  children  led  the  parents.  The  work  seemed  to 
have  especial  effect  upon  the  village,  which  had  been  very 
worldly  and  careless  on  the  subject  of  religion  and  the 
church.  It  changed  its  character.  Many  details  could  be 
furnished  of  interesting  conversions  and  of  the  incoming 
of  young  people,  especially  of  young  men,  whose  jDresence 
and  part-taking  in  the  weekly  meetings  and  in  church  work 
added  great  strength.  The  Divine  Spirit  was  present  with 
special  power.  Perhaps  the  occurrence  is  too  recent  to  be 
written  up  as  to  details. 

It  may  be  well  to  ask,  however,  whether  the  Tappan 
church  adequately  appreciated  this  important  event  in  its 
history,  and  made  as  much  of  it  as  it  should  have  made  for 
the  permanent  promotion  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  Often 
our  Lord's  ministers  and  people  find  themselves  wonder- 
ing, after  such  a  gracious  visitation  has  passed  by,  what  has 
become  of  the  grace  that  was  so  active  for  a  while.  Why 
cannot  the  life  of  a  church  be  in  perpetual  vigor  ?  Is  not 
this  question  worth  the  thought  of  the  people  of  God  ? 


^^.  ^^^ 


EEV.  MATTHEW  NEWKIRK  OLIVER. 
*  {Present  Pastor.) 

INSTALLED  NOVEMBER  2,    1890. 

The  seventh  and  present  pastor  of  the  church  is  a  son  of 
James  OHver,  M.D.,'  and  Gitty  Cole,  of  Marbletown,  Ul- 
ster County,  N.  Y.  He  was  one  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  childhood.  Those  who  reached  maturity  were 
Cornelius  Cole,  Garret  Newkirk,   Christina  Row,  James, 

'  Andrew  Oliver,  with  three  brothers,  came  to  America  from  County 
Armagh,  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  about  1740.  His  ancestry  is  sup- 
posed to  have  come  from  Scotland,  and  earlier  still  from  France  about 
the  time  of  James  V.,  when  the  two  kingdoms  were  in  friendly  alli- 
ance. Of  the  four  brothers,  one  settled  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  one 
in  Pennsylvania,  one  in  South  America,  and  the  fourth,  Andrew,  in 
Marbletown.  Andrew  was  a  surveyor  and  a  man  of  education.  At 
one  time  during  the  Revolution  his  house  became  the  meeting  place  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  after  the  burning  of  Kingston  in  1777  pre- 
vented their  further  meetings  there.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Brodhead,  of  Marbletown,  and  had  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. 

His  second  son,  James,  was  born  in  1745  and  died  in  1826.  He  stud- 
ied medicine  and  became  eminent  as  a  physician  and  surgeon.  He 
was  the  preceptor  of  many  medical  students,  and  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  County  Medical  Society,  in  office  from  1806  to  1809.  Be- 
ing a  man  of  recognized  general  cajDacity,  he  was  kept  in  office  as  su- 
pervisor of  Marbletown  from  1783  to  1787,  and  was  appointed  county 
judge  in  1800.  He  was  surgeon  of  the  Ulster  County  Regiment  at  the 
battle  of  Saratoga,  and  anecdotes  have  come  down  to  us  of  his  nerve 
and  patriotism  at  the  time.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Mat- 
thew Newkirk,  of  Marbletown.  She  was  born  in  1755  and  died  in 
1808.  They  had  two  children — Ann,  who  married  John  Miller,  of 
Montgomery,  and  Matthew. 

Matthew,  born  1780,  died  1865,  Avas  a  farmer.  He  married  Jane  El- 
ting,  of  Hurley,  born  1783,  died  1842.  She  was  a  sister  of  Revs.  Wil- 
helmus  and  Cornelius  Elting,  many  years  in  the  ministry  of  the  Re- 
formed Church .    Matthew  was  long  supervisor  of  his  town,  and  member 


122  REV.    MATTHEW   N.    OLIVER. 

Mary  Elizabeth,  Esther  Margaret,  wife  of  Ralph  Le  Fevre 
of  New  Paltz,  and  Matthew  Newkirk. 

The  last  and  youngest  of  these  children  (now  Rev.  Mat- 
thew N.  Oliver)  was  born  in  Marbletown,  November  12, 
1834,  and  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Liberty  Normal 

of  the  Assembly  in  1830,  These  parents  left  three  sons,  James,  Cor- 
nelius, and  Richard,  and  three  daughters,  Ann,  Esther,  and  Margaret. 
James,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  December  24,  1806,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 12,  1893.  He  studied  medicine  and  practised  it  till  his  eightieth 
year.  Like  his  ancestors,  he  combined  civil  and  financial  with  pro- 
fessional duties,  and,  like  them,  he  had  a  fondness  for  landed  estate. 
He  married  Gitty,  daughter  of  Cornelius  C.  Cole.  She  was  born  at 
High  Falls,  May  20,  1809,  and  died  February  12,  1873.  These  were 
the  parents  of  the  present  pastor  of  the  Tappan  church. 

The  Cole  ancestry  from  which  the  mother  came  was  precisely  the 
same,  at  its  American  start,  as  that  from  which  the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole 
descended.  Let  that  be  turned  to  and  consulted  till  it  reaches  Jacob 
Barentsen  Kool,  who  was  in  line  to  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole.  His  brother, 
Theunis  Barentsen  Kool,  was  in  line  to  Rev.  Matthew  N.  Oliver.  Both 
these  brothers  went  with  their  father  to  Ulster  County  soon  after  the 
surrender  of  1664.  The  line  of  the  former  appeared  in  the  Tajjpan 
church  in  Jacob  Kool  in  1695.  The  line  of  the  latter  has  appeared  in 
the  same  church  in  Rev.  Matthew  N.  Oliver  in  1890. 

From  Theunis  Barentsen  Kool  came  Cornells  Theunisen  Kool,  who 
married  Janneke,  daughter  of  Lambert  Huybertsen  Brink  and  Hen- 
drickje  Cornelise,  and  settled  in  Hurley.  Their  son  Cornelius  Cole 
married  Catharine  Peck,  of  Marbletown,  and  had  ten  children.  And 
his  son  Cornelius  C.  Cole,  born  at  Hurley  in  1773,  died  in  1837,  mar- 
ried Christina  Row,  born  in  Milan,  Dutchess  County,  1775,  died  at 
High  Falls  1837.  These  were  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Dr.  James  Oliver, 
mother  of  the  pastor  of  the  Tappan  church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Oliver  raari-ied,  August  15,  1871,  Miss  Helen  M.  Thomson, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Frederick  B.  Thomson  and  Catharine  Voorhees 
Wyckoff,  missionaries  to  Borneo,  and  granddaughter  of  Nicholas 
Wyckoff  and  Helen  Voorhees,  of  New  Brunswick.  A  very  full  article 
upon  her  parents,  and  alluding  to  her  own  life,  is  contained  in  Cor- 
win's  Manual,  pp.  487-491,  and  other  allusions  of  interest  may  be 
found  in  Pierson's  "American  Missionary  Memorial  "  and  in  the  "Man- 
ual of  Foreign  Missions,"  edited  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Sangster.  Her  in- 
fluence, quietly  exerted,  has  always  been  effective  in  fostering  religious 
sentiments,  forming  warm  friendships,  and  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  church. 


REV.    MATTHEW   N.    OLIVER.  133 

Institute,  Sullivan  County,  under  the  mathematician,  Prof. 
John  F.  Stoddart,  and  at  Kingston  Academy  and  Dutch- 
ess County  Academy,  both  under  the  charge  of  William 
McGeorge,  a  graduate  of  Glasgow  University.     He  entered 
Union  College  in  1852  and  was  graduated  in  1857,  ranking 
fifth  in  a  class  of  122.     He  began  to  study  law  under  Prof. 
John  W.  Fowler  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Law  School,  but  was 
arrested  in  his  course  by  failure  of  health,  which  compelled 
him  to  retire  to  his  father's  farm  for  rest.     While  at  home 
the  death  of  a  sister  changedliis  views  as  to  a  profession, 
and  when  his  health  returned  he  entered  the  New  Bruns- 
wick Theological  Seminary,  from  which  he  was  duly  gra- 
duated in  1871.    Having  been  licensed  by  the  Classis  of 
Kingston,  he  accepted  a  call  from  Clover  Hill,  N.  J.,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  July  11.     He  remained  in  this 
charge  thirteen  years,  during  which  the  congregation  main- 
tained its  excellent  condition,  an  old  debt  on  the  parsonage 
was  cancelled,  and  the  church  building  was  remodelled,  the 
work  being  paid  for,  the  cost  having  been  about  85,000. 

In  the  spring  of  1S84  he  received  calls  from  Plattekill 
and  Eosendale,  both  in  Ulster  County.  The  congregation 
of  Rosendale  was  in  a  depressed  condition,  in  debt  for  a 
new  parsonage,  weakened  by  dissension,  apathetic  as  to 
religion  and  church  work,  a  prey  to  invaders,  and  gradu- 
ally scattering  to  other  churches.  Pev.  Mr.  Oliver  chose 
to  accept  its  call,  was  installed  May  6,  1884,  and  remained 
at  Rosendale  six  years.  During  this  time  the  debt  of  over 
$1,000  was  paid,  the  church  was  repainted,  a  new  lecture 
room  was  added  and  paid  for,  good  feeling  was  re-estab- 
hshed,  the  membership  was  more  than  doubled,  the  con- 
gregational territory  was  restored,  and  steps  were  taken 
for  building  what  is  now  called  "The  Plains  Chapel." 
The  pastor  in  this  locality  had  a  great  advantage  in  the 
very  high  regard  entertained  by  the  people  for  his  father, 
Dr.  James  Oliver,  who  had  practised  his  profession  in  that 
region  for  many  years. 

Just  as  he  was  entering  his  seventh  year  at  Rosendale, 
overtures  were  made  to  him  from  Tappan.  His  people,  on 
learning  of  this  fact,  presented  to  him  a  petition,  signed  by 


124  REV.    MATTHEW   N.    OLIVER. 

every  member  of  his  congregation,  urging  him  to  remain. 
But  he  had  already  committed  himself  to  the  Tappan  Con- 
sistory and  could  not  recall  his  word.  He  was  installed 
pastor  at  Tappan  on  the  2d  of  November,  1890.  The  ser- 
mon on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  the  author  of  this 
history,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole,  a  former  pastor  of 
the  church. 

In  addition  to  his  pulpit  and  pastoral  work.  Rev.  Mr. 
Oliver  has  contributed  many  articles  to  the  press.  In  the 
Christian  Intelligencer  he  has  published  "Christies.  Evo- 
lution "  (1878),  "The  Bearing  of  Darwinism  on  Christian 
Faith,"  "The  Johnstown  Disaster,  or  Natural  Law  sub- 
servient to  Spiritual  Law,"  "Going  a- fishing  with  John 
Burroughs"  (1889).  In  the  Christian  at  Work  have  ap- 
peared "Embryotic  Resemblance  vs.  Identity  of  Descent" 
(1879),  "Herbert  Spencer  and  the  Bible:  Unethical  Ten- 
dencies of  Herbert  Spencer's  Ethics— Difficulties  and  De- 
mands of  Atheistic  Evolution"  (1880),  "The  Concessions 
of  Herbert  Spencer:  Buddha  not  a  Compeer  of  Christ" 
(1884),  "The  Mistakes  of  Strauss"  (1883),  "The  Divine 
Assuagement  of  Remorse  "  (1884),  "Tayler  Lewis  "  (1884), 
"  Christ  in  His  Human  Nature  "  (1888).  "  Renan's  Life  of 
Christ"  appeared  in  the  "  Bibliotheca  Sacra  of  1893,"  and 
"The  Sourland  Mountain  Mission  "was  published  in  the 
"History  of  Somerset  County,  N.  J." 

Rev.  Mr.  Oliver  writes  to  me  thus  in  a  letter  respecting 
the  Tappan  church  of  to-day: 

"The  Tappan  church  is  passing  through  one  of  those  crises 
which  visit  every  congregation.  It  is  in  a  state  of  transition 
from  the  old  to  a  new  order  of  things.  The  congregation 
is  very  different  from  what  it  was  during  the  long  pastorates 
of  the  former  ministers.  The  personnel  of  the  congregation  is 
rapidly  changing.  New  villages  with  new  churches  are  spring- 
ing up  along  the  lines  of  the  railroads.  Travelling  facilities 
are  bringing  in  a  new  class  of  people.  The  work  to  be  done  is 
in  some  respects  similar  to  that  of  forming  a  new  congregation. 
In  another  respect  it  is  one  of  readjustment  to  the  new  order  of 


REV.    MATTHEW   N.    OLIVER.  125 

things.  The  church  can  never  regain  its  original  territorial 
proportions.  But  there  is  a  possibility  for  the  new  element  to  be 
won  over  and  blended  in  time  into  a  strong  organization.  Such 
a  work  is  necessarily  slow  and  unattended  with  eclat.  Will 
the  grand  old  church  of  the  past  rise  in  the  future  to  a  com- 
manding position?  It  will  if  there  is  any  sentiment  of  nobility 
in  the  descendants  which  quickens  at  the  memory  of  a  noble 
ancestr}-*  and  respects  their  dying  wishes,  sinks  all  minor  ambi- 
tions into  the  greater  one  of  making  the  church  first  and  self 
second,  and  which  possesses  suflScient  refinement  and  culture, 
capable  of  appreciating  the  prestige  of  membership  in  a  church 
such  as  is  afforded  by  few  churches  of  the  land.  If  the  people, 
one  and  all,  continue  to  work  as  they  have  since  I  have  been 
among  them,  with  the  divine  blessing  their  future  is  assured." 


Here  my  history,  as  arranged  under  pastoral  periods, 
ends.  I  must  speak  briefly,  however,  before  closing,  upon 
the  permanent  agencies  of  the  church  and  upon  some  of 
its  incidental  matters. 

The  Sunday -School,  as  an  institution,  is  but  little  over  a 
century  old.  For  certain  reasons  it  did  not  come  strongly 
before  the  American  public  till  between  1825  and  1830.  I 
remember  its  introduction  at  Tappan,  The  Sunday-School 
Union,  then  of  recent  organization,  had  just  published  its 
first  library  of  thirty  volumes,  at  a  cost,  I  think,  of  ten 
dollars.  The  school  was  started  in  1830.  Mr.  Abraham 
D.  Vervalen  was  its  first  Superintendent.  The  Assistant 
Pastor  was  its  suggester  and  had  his  heart  warmly  in  it. 
Branch  schools  were  soon  after  begun  in  the  various  out- 
lying districts  of  the  congregation.  All  these  schools,  for 
at  least  ten  years,  were  held  in  the  summers  only.  No 
doubt  other  Superintendents  succeeded  Mr.  Vervalen  be- 
fore the  school  became  a  year-round  institution.  Those 
remembered  from  1810  were  John  V.  B.  Johnson,  Thomas 
Lippincott,  John  H.  Wood,  John  T.  Haring,  Henry  Whit- 
temore,  John  T.  Haring  (again),  William  Devoe,  and 
James  Ottignon.  The  present  Superintendent  is  Cornelius 
De  Pew, 


126  THE   SUNDAY   SCHOOL — THE   PRAYER  MEETING. 

In  the  early  days  the  teachers  wished  the  children  to  sit 
with  them  in  the  gallery.  The  terrible  wrong  of  diverting 
them  from  the  family  pews  was,  however,  fully  appreciated 
by  the  pastor  and  soon  broken  up. 

I  regret  that  no  data  exist  from  which  to  compute  the 
results  of  the  work  of  this  school  in  bringing  souls  to 
Christ.  Sixty  years  must  have  accomplished  much. 
What  Sunday-schools  are  blessed  in  doing  should  be  care- 
fully summarized  in  annual  reports  and  preserved.  Per- 
haps this  suggestion  will  be  useful  to  this  school  for  its 
future  years. 

The  Prayer  Meeting,  as  an  institution,  is  as  old  as  the 
Church  of  Christ  on  the  earth.  But  the  regular  weekly 
social  gathering  for  prayer,  as  we  of  to-day  know  it,  did 
not  start  in  Eockland  County  with  the  starting  of  this 
church,  nor  did  it  become  fixed  till  after  1850.  Id  my 
childhood  here  there  were  prayer  meetings  sometimes,  and 
at  other  times  none  for  long  periods.  Prayer  meetings, 
when  held  at  all,  were  of  course  held  in  dwelling  houses. 
At  the  time  of  my  own  profession  of  religion,  in  1843,  I 
was  obliged,  as  a  resident  here,  to  go  three  miles  to  attend 
the  nearest  prayer  meeting,  which  was  held  in  the  lower 
Greenbush  neighborhood.  Yet  meetings  were  sometimes 
held  for  a  considerable  time  in  the  village.  But  any  little 
cause  would  break  them  up.  A  little  unpleasant  feeling,  a 
Uttle  unpleasant  weather,  a  spiritually  chilled  condition, 
would  run  the  numbers  down  and  the  meetings  would 
stop  at  once.  One  of  the  steps  leading  to  regularity  in  the 
prayer  meetings  was  the  erection  of  a  central  and  per- 
manent apartment  suitable  for  them,  properly  provided 
with  means  for  lighting  and  warming,  and  supplied  with 
Bibles  and  hymn  books.  It  was  not  till  the  lecture  room 
came  that  the  prayer  meeting  became  a  fixed  institution 
in  the  village.  Of  course,  even  since  that  time  it  has  had 
a  variable  life.  The  prayer  meeting  is  a  most  important 
agency  in  every  church.  It  is  the  centre  at  which  its  social 
life  must  be  kindled  and  maintained.  Its  singing,  prayers, 
and  addresses  cannot,  as  to  their  character,  be  too  care- 


THE  CHURCH  MUSIC.  127 

fully  and  wisely  directed.  The  Tappan  prayer  meeting  has 
at  several  periods  been  greatly  blessed.  It  may  have  at 
any  and  all  times  all  the  power  it  heartily  craves  and  asks 
from  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  this  truth  imposes  a  vast  re- 
sponsibility upon  its  members,  who  are  professedly  banded 
together  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

The  Music  of  the  church  in  the  olden  times,  as  con- 
ducted in  the  Dutch  language,  was  full  of  heart  The 
singing  was,  of  course,  confined  to  the  Bible  Psalter. 
There  was  no  instrument,  and  the  singers  put  their  whole 
strength  of  voice  on  melody,  giving  to  harmony  little  or 
no  thought.  When  English  singing  came  in  a  new  musi- 
cal dispensation  came  with  it.  We  used  the  Collection  of 
Psalms  and  Hymns  compiled  by  Dr.  Livingston  in  1812.  Its 
Psalms  were  metrical  versions  of  the  Bible  Psalms.  Very 
many  of  them  had  more  than  one  section  or  "  part  ";  some 
of  them  had  many.  The  first  compilation  of  Hymns  was 
confined  to  the  order  and  subjects  of  the  Heidelberg  Cate- 
chism. To  these  in  time  were  appended  some  hymns 
called  "Miscellaneous."  At  last,  in  1831,  came  the  first 
installment  of  "Additional  Hymns."  This  started  new 
life  into  our  singing.  The  young  pastor,  himself  a  singer, 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  church  music.  Not  long  be- 
fore his  settlement  at  Tappan,  Van  De venter's  "New 
Brunswick  Collection  of  Sacred  Music  "  appeared.  It  was 
issued  in  "patent  notes,"  became  very  popular,  and  passed 
through  at  least  eight  editions.  The  pastor  started  a  sing- 
ing school  with  a  Mr.  Perkins  as  teacher,  a  very  fine  musi- 
cian and  of  most  attractive  manners.  His  coming  into  the 
neighborhood  was  an  event.  Many  in  later  days  were 
happy  to  trace  their  love  of  music  to  that  school  and 
teacher.  John  V.  B.  Johnson  was  one  of  these.  The 
style  of  the  English  singing  in  those  years  was  that  now 
sometimes  reproduced  in  what  are  called  "Old  Folks' 
Concerts."  The  Dutch  era  of  simple  melody  gave  way 
under  it  to  the  dispensation  of  harmony.  No  one  who  has 
not  personally  passed  through  the  intervening  period  from 
then    to    now  can  fully  appreciate  the  development  in 


128  THE   SEXTONS— THE   SPIRIT   OF   GIVING. 

church  music  in  our  churches  since  the  days  when  no 
instruments  were  used.  I  have  given  the  dates  at  which 
the  first  instrument,  and  later  the  pipe  organ,  came  into 
this  church.  The  earher  leaders  of  the  singing  were  the 
clerks,  or  "  Voorlesers,"  who  came  down  to  1835,  and  whose 
names  have  been  given.  The  present  musical  director  is 
Mrs.  L.  F.  Deming,  an  accomplished  organist.  She  is  sus- 
tained by  a  choir  consisting  of  Mr.  Rodney  E.  Howell, 

Tenor ;  ,   Soprano ;  Mrs.  S.  R.  Thompson,  Alto  ;  and 

Mr.  Cornelius  De  Pew,  Bass,  assisted  by  a  chorus  of  young 
people,  called  "  The  Pastor's  Choir." 

The  Sextons,  since  the  days  when  the  clerks  named  held 
the  office,  have  been  John  Parsells,  John  A.  Haring,  An- 
drew H.  Haring,  and  Tunis  A.  Haring.  The  present 
sexton  is  William  Devoe. 

The  spirit  of  giving  which  was  manifested  by  the  land- 
givers  of  1729  has  again  and  again  reappeared,  in  the  long 
history  of  the  church,  in  a  liberality  shown  by  devoted 
members  and  friends  in  times  of  need,  as  when  the  church 
of  1788,  the  church  of  1835,  and  the  parsonage  extension  of 
the  same  year  were  built ;  also  when  the  many  periods  of 
repair  to  the  church  property  came  along,  when  redressings 
of  the  house  of  worship  were  called  for,  and  when  the  pipe 
organ  was  purchased.  In  recent  years  some  special  bequests 
and  gifts  have  come  into  realization.  Mr,  John  P.  Huyler, 
who  united  with  the  church  by  profession  July  3,  1858,  and 
died  September  11,  1886,  left  the  church  $1,000,  its  income 
to  be  devoted  to  general  church  uses.  Mr.  John  G.  Bell, 
received  by  profession  July  1,  1876,  died  in  October,  188J:, 
leaving  $1,000,  its  interest  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Sunday-school.  Mr.  John  T.  Haring,  a  member  since 
January  1,  1859,  and  an  elder  in  the  church  to-day,  has 
recently  given  $500,  which  has  already  been  invested  and 
yields  good  income.  Mr.  Haring,  as  before  stated,  is  a 
direct  descendant  of  Cosyn  Haring,  one  of  the  land-givers 
of  1729.  It  is  said  that  another  bequest  has  been  made, 
which  cannot  yet  be  specified.  The  devoted  pastor  of  the 
church  has  his  whole  heart  in  it,  and  proposes  to  be  one  of 


CLOSING  SUGGESTIONS.  129 

five  to  leave  $1,000  each  to  it  in  a  will.  May  our  dear  Lord 
dispose  His  friends  to  see  in  this  proposition  an  opportu- 
nity to  do  something  direct  for  Himself  to  the  honor  and 
glory  of  His  Holy  Name  ! 

My  last  suggestion  is  that  the  people  of  this  dear  old 
church  should  be  drawn  warmly  to  it  for  the  honor  God 
has  now  put  upon  it  in  giving  it  these  two  hundred  years 
of  life.  There  is  a  self -constituted  aristocracy  of  wealth 
and  social  connections.  But  the  aristocracy  of  honorable 
Christian  descent  is  immeasu:i^bly  more  valuable  and  solid. 
The  aristocracy  born  of  descent  from  generations  such  as 
those  which  founded  a  church  like  this,  and  built  it  up 
against  such  obstacles  as  it  has  encountered — this  is  an 
aristocracy  not  bought  with  wealth,  but  God-given.  Times 
change  and  communities  change.  Population  has  set  to- 
ward this  centre  slowly  in  the  past,  but  it  will  come  in 
more  rapidly  in  the  future,  and  the  Son  of  man  will  plant 
or  sow  the  children  of  the  kingdom  as  He  pleases.  But 
my  own  personal  feeling  toward  a  church  out  of  which  the 
very  roots  of  my  life  have  come  is  a  feeling  of  love  that  it 
would  take  a  convulsion  to  shake.  If  I  lived  in  Tappan 
nothing  but  a  call  clearly  from  God  could  draw  me  away 
from  my  ancestral,  birthright  home.  Rejoicing  in  the 
spread  of  my  Lord's  work,  and  praising  Him  for  new  vil- 
lages springing  up  all  round  and  requiring  new  churches, 
I  yet  would  cherish  my  own  ancestral  church  with  strong 
filial  pride.  It  would  have  for  me  an  inspiring  spell  that 
nothing  could  break.  What  this  church  must  cultivate  is 
unity  of  spirit  and  aim.  Division  almost  racked  it  to  death 
in  the  eighteenth  century.  It  laid  its  baleful  hand  upon 
it  again  in  the  secession  days  of  the  present  century.  My 
earnest  prayer,  as  I  praise  God  for  the  privilege  of  leaving 
behind  me  this  history  of  its  life,  is  that  His  Spirit  may 
descend  upon  it  with  an  irresistible  power,  draw  and  melt 
aU  its  hearts  into  one,  and  make  it  a  mighty  force  for  ser- 
vice and  for  conquest  of  immortal  souls.  The  record  of  its 
past  has  now  been  written.  What  shall  the  record  of  its 
future  be  ?  The  answer  cannot  come  from  the  congrega- 
9 


130  CLOSING  SUGGESTIONS. 

tion  as  a  mass.  It  must  come  from  its  individual  hearts. 
It  will  grow  out  of  its  individual  lives.  Let  us  think  of 
this.  ''None  of  us  liveth  to  himself."  Beloved  friends, 
how  can  you  so  use  this  church  of  two  centuries  as  to  turn 
it  to  the  very  best  account  for  the  honoring  of  Christ  ? 


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APPENDIX. 


ELDERS  AND  DEACONS. 
'*  {From  1694  to  1894.) 

COMPLETE,    EXCEPT  FROM  1778  TO  1782   (BOTH  INCLUSIVE). 

Till  1730  one  elder  and  one  deacon  were  chosen  each  year, 
and  both  were  changed  every  year.  From  1730  the  Consistory 
has  always  contained  four  elders  and  four  deacons.  The  term 
of  service  of  each  Consistoryman  has  been  two  years.  Two 
elders  and  two  deacons  have  been  elected  each  year.  Re-elec- 
tions of  outgoing  men  have  frequently  occurred.  And  some  - 
times  deaths  or  resignations  have  made  filling  of  vacancies 
necessary,  which  accounts  'for  the  election  in  several  instances 
of  more  than  two  elders  or  two  deacons  at  a  time. 

In  addition  to  the  elders  and  deacons  this  church  had  from 
the  beginning  an  officer  or  officers  known  as  Church  Masters- 
In  the  deed  of  1729  Gerret  Blauvelt  is  mentioned  as  the  Church 
Master  of  the  time. 


ELECTED. 

Oct.  25,  1694 
1695 
1696 
1697 
1698 
1699 

1700 
14,  1701 

14,  1703 
13,  1703 
11,  1704 
17,  1705 

16,  1706 

15,  1707 
13,  1708 
11,  1709 
11,  1710 

17,  1711 
15,  1712 


ELDERS. 

Lambert  Adriaenze  Smidt 
Daniel  de  Clerck 
Cornelis  Claesen  Cuijper 
Albert  Minnelaij 
Teunis  Van  Howten 
Lambert  Adriaenze  Smidt 

Daniel  De  Clerck 
Albert  Minnelay 
Cornelis  Hearingh 
Cornelis  Claesen  Kuijper 
Lambert  Adriaense  Smidt 
Albert  Minnelaij 
Douwe  Talema 
Daniel  de  Klerck 
Teunis  van  Houten 
Lammert  Adriaense  Smidt 
Albert  Minnelay 
Abram  Blawvelt 
Teunis  Talema 


DEACONS. 

Cornells  Haringh 
Johannes  Blawvelt 
JeremiJ  Ceuuiflf 
Teunis  Douwense  Taelman 
Cozyn  Haringh 
Reijnier  Mijnertze 

(see  1708— same  man) 
Jan  Claese  Cuijper 
Johannes  Blawvelt 
Jeremij  Cenniff 
Cozijn  Hearingh 
Jan  Klaasen  Kuijper 
Abraham  Blauvelt 
Jakob  Tyse  Vlierboom 
Dirck  Stratemakers 
Reijnier  Heijserijck 
Gerret  Huijbertse  (Blauvelt) 
Roelof  Van  Houten 
Johannes  Meijer 
Abram  Haringh 


132 


LIST   OF  ELDERS   AND   DEACONS. 


ELECTED.  ELDEES 

Oct.  14,  1713        Kosyu  Haringh 
"     13,  1714       Lammert  Smit 
"     12,  1715       Rynier  Hyseiryk 
"     28,  171G       Abraham  Hariug 

Barent  Nagel      , 
"    16,1717       Hannes  Meijyer 
"     16,1718       Theunis  Roeloffs  van  Houten 
"     14,  1719       Cosija  Haringh 
"     12,  1730       Lammert  Ariaensz.  Smit 
"     11,  1721        Abraham  Haringh 
"     17,1723       Roeloff  Tlieunisze  van  Houten 
"•     16,  1723       Theunis  Douwe  Taleman 
"     31,  1725       Nicolaas  van  Houten 
"     80,  1726        Cornells  Cornelsz  Smit 
"    15,  1727        Jan  Hogenkamp 

Bernardus  Verveelen 
"    27,  1728       Reynier  Heijserrijk 
"     12,  1729       Cornelis  Ekkerse 

Joseph  Blauvelt 

Resolvert  Naegel 

Jacob  Blaeuwfeldt 


DEACONS. 

Jakob  Vlierboom 
Klaes  van  Houten 
Gerret  Smidt 
Cornelis  Eckesen 

Roeloii  Van  Houten 
Joseph  Blaauvelt 
Cornelius  Smit 
Jacob  Abrahamsz.  Blaauvelt 
Jan  Hogenkamp 
Gerrit  Lammertz  Smitt 
Jan  Haringh  (Cosijn's  son) 
Isack  Abrahamsz  Blaauvelt 
Cornelis  Lambertse  Smitt 
Iden  Meijer 

Theunis  Kuijper 
Jan  Haring 
Douwe  Taeleman 


18,  1730 


Daniel  Blaeuwfeldt 
Abram  Haring 

The  regular  cliurcli  book  has  no  record  of  elders  and  deacons 
elected  between  1730  and  1750.  But  Domine  Muzelius,  on 
pages  of  the  book  of  his  schismatic  church,  near  the  end  of  the 
book,  made  a  note  of  the  terms  of  his  call  of  November  17, 1727, 
and  also  entered  the  names  of  all  the  elders  and  deacons  who 
served  during  his  regular  pastorate  from  1727  to  1749.  Of 
course  he  begins  with  the  names  from  1727.  Not  repeating 
what  I  have  already  given,  I  take  up  his  list  from  1730  and 
carry  it  to  where  it  connects  with  the  regular  church  book  in 
1750.     He  gives  the  names  only,  without  the  dates  of  election. 


ELDEES. 

Gerret  Huijbertse 
Gerret  Smidt 
Wilm  Velden 
Jan  Haringh 
Cornelis  Smit 
Theunis  Kuijper 
Klaes  Van  Houten 
Barent  Nagel 
Isaac  Ab.  Blawvelt 
Johannes  Meyer 
Daniel  Blauvelt 
Jacob  Polhemus 


DEACONS. 

Jacob  Meyer 
Jan  Van  Dalsen 
Johannes  Blauvelt 
Jan  Nagel 
Cornelius  Haringh 
Arie  Smidt 
Barendt  Kool 
Peter  Bogert 
Johannes  Boogaert 
Andries  Meijer 
Henry  Ludlow 
Abram  Quackenbos 


LIST   OF  ELDERS  AND   DEACONS. 


133 


ELDERS. 

Resolvert  Nagel 
Cornells  Smit 
Roelof  Van  Houten 
Jacob  Blauvelt 
Cornelis  Cuiper 
Don  we  Talema 
Abraliam  Haring 
Cornelis  Smii 
Theunis  Kuijper 
Jacobus  Turneur, 
Abraham  Haringh 
Barent  Nagel 
Willem  Velden 
Isack  Ab.  Blauvelt 
Gerret  Smith 
William  Ferdon 
Jan  Haringh 
Roelof  Van  Houten 
Daniel  Blauvelt 
Garret  Snedeger 
Johannes  Meyer 
Douwe  Talema 
Cornelis  Cuiper 
Jacob  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Blauvelt 


DEACONS. 

Abraham  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  Eckkese 
Matheis  Boogaert 
Jacob  Haringh 
David  Blawveldt 
Cornelius  Smit 
Jacob  Quackenbos 
Arie  Adriansen 
Isaac  Joh.  Blauvelt 
Theunis  Nagel 
Jan  Nagel 
Willem  Sickels 
Jacobus  Blauvelt 
Myndert  Hogenkamp 
Jan  Rijcke 
Johannes  Blauvelt 

f  Adolph  Lent 

I  Petrus  Smidt 

1  Petrus  Van  Houten 

I  Hendrick  Nagel 


The  elders  and  deacons  in  braces,  I  learn  from  a  private  paper, 
were  in  service  in  1748. 

Here  the  regular  book  connects  with  Domine  Muzelius'  list 
through  its  last  two  names  in  each  column,  by  giving  the  full 
Consistory  of  1750  as  follows  : 


Jacob  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Blauvelt 
Jan  Haring 
Jan  Nagel 
Cornelius  Cuyper 


Petrus  Van  Houten 
Hendrick  Nagel 
Abraham  Kool 
Cornelius  Smith 


Of  course  all  but  the  first  two  in  each  of  these  columns  were 
elected  in  1750.  And  now  the  regular  book  proceeds  again, 
thus  : 


ELBCTED. 

1751 

Cornelius  Smith 

William  Nagel 

Cornelis  L.  Smith 

Cornelis  Cuyper 

1753 

Abraham  Haring 

Pieter  Oblienis 

Willem  Ferdon 

Johannes  Haring 

134 


LIST   OF  ELDERS  AND   DEACONS. 


1753  Cornelius  Haringh 
Petrus  Van  Houten 

1754  Jan  Corn.  Haring 
Jan  Nagel 

1755  Jan  Corn.  Haring 
Wiilim  Sickelse 

1756  Jan  Corn.  Haring 
Roelof  Van  Houten 

1757  Petrus  Smidt 
Cornelius  Abra,  Haring 

1758  Jacob  Haringh 
Daniel  Vervelen 


DEACONS. 

Richard  Blanch 
Arije  Jansen 
Tlieunis  Smit 
Cornelius  Abra.  Haring 
Daniel  Haring 
Daniel  Verveelen 
Hendrick  Blauvelt 
Gerret>,Eckerse 
Floris  Crom 
Hendrick  Nagel 
Gerret  Van  Houten 
Teunis  Blauvelt 


At  this  point  in  the  record  stands  a  second  entry  of  names  as 
if  elected  in  1758.      I  cannot  understand  it,  but  give  it  as  it  is  : 

Elders. — Johannes  Blauvelt,  Johannes  Haring. 
Deacons.— Johannes  Vervelen,  Fredericus  Haring. 


Oct.  28,  1759 
Nov.  2,  1760 
Nov.  1,  1761 
Oct.  31,  1762 
Nov.  6, 1763 
Dec,  2,  1764 
Nov.  2,  1765 
Nov.  30, 1766 
Dec.  25,  1767 
Dec.  8,  1768 
Nov,  19,  1769 
Dec.  6,  1770 
Feb. 16,  1773 
Dec.  12,  1773 


Adolf  A.  Lent 
Hendrick  Nagel 
Gerret  Van  Houten 
Gerret  Eckersen 
Jan  Cor.  Haring 
Roelof  Van  Houten 
Johannes  Jos.  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Haring 
Jan  Nagel 
Jacob  Haringh 
Wiilim  Sickelse 
Jan  Perrie 
Abraham  Haring 
William  Nagel 
Abraham  Blauvelt 
Gerret  Eckersen 
Abraham  Quackenbos 
Daniel  Verveelen 
Cornelius  Cuijper 
Theunis  Blauvelt 
Hendrick  Nagel 
Abraham  Jan  Haring 
Johannes  Jos.  Blauvelt 
Fredericus  Haring 
William  Nagel 
Fredericus  Blauvelt 
Petrus  Van  Houten 
Jan  Perrie" 


Abraham  Blauvelt 
Frederickus  Blauvelt 
William  A.  Nagel 
Johannes  Smidt 
Cornelius  Isaac  Blauveldt 
Johannes  Bell 
Fredericus  Haring 
Johannes  Nagel 
Abraham  Haring 
Hendrick  Blauvelt 
William  Haldron 
Abraham  Abr.  Haring,  Jr. 
David  Edwards 
Johannes  Blauvelt 
Fredericus  Haring 
Johannes  Nagel 
Abraham  Blaeuvelt 
Gerret  Blauvelt 
Abraham  Abr.  Haring,  Jr. 
Isaac  Blanch 
.Johannes  Jacob  Blauvelt 
David  Haring 
Jacob  Woertendyck 
Thomas  Blanch 
Cornelius  Blauvelt 
Petrus  Haring 
Marten  Poules 
Johannes  David  Blauvelt 


LIST  OF  ELDERS  AND  DEACONS. 


135 


ELECTED.  ELDERS. 

Dec.  3,  1775       David  Haring 
Thomas  Blanch 

Feb.  9,  1777       Johannes  Jos.  Blauveldt 
Gerret  Haring 


DEACONS. 

Gerret  Blauvelt 
Johannis  Bell 
Cornelius  Bogert 
Abraham  Blauvelt 


Here  the  record  fails  till  August  4,  1783.  At  this  date  the 
Consistory  stands  thus : 

Elders. — Tunis  Blauvelt,  Robert  Sickles,  Abraham  J.  Haring,  Martin  Pou- 
lus. 

Deacons. — Abraham  T.  Blauvelt,  Barent  H.  Nagel,  John  I.  Haring,  Gerrit 
Jos.  Blauvelt.  *" 


Jan.  5,  1784 
Jan.  5, 1785 

Dec.  23,  1785 
Dec.  26,  1786 
Nov.  2,  1787 
Dec.  6,  1788 
Oct.  31,  1789 
Oct.  31,  1790 
Oct.  27,  1791 
Nov.  1,1793 

Oct.  19,  1793 
Oct.  23,  1794 
Nov.  6,  1795 
Oct.  13,  1796 
Nov.  7,  1797 
Nov.  8, 1798 


Johannes  Jos.  Blauvelt 
Gerrit  Eckersen 
Frederick  Blauvelt 
Thomas  Blanch 

Cornelius  Isaac  Blauvelt 
Isaac  Blanch 
David  Haring 
Peter  S.  Demarest 
John  Perry 

Johannes  Jac.  Blauvelt 
Peter  Haring 
Benjamin  Blackledge 
Gerrit  I.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Bell 
Barent  Naugel 
Jacobus  Perry 
Cornelius  Smith 
Abraham  Rycker 
Theunis  Snyder 

John  Myndert  Hogenkamp 
Fredericus  Haring 
Martin  Powles 
Dr.  Thomas  Outwater 
Johannes  T.  Haring 
William  Sickles 
Thomas  Eckerson 
Isaac  Nagel 
Jacobus  I.  Blauvelt 
Isaac  Smith 
Peter  Haring 
Abraham  Ferdon 


John  Hogenkamp 
Matthew  Bogert 
Johannes  Bell 
John  Myndert  Hogenkamp 
Benjamin  Blackledge 
John  G.  Haring 
Jacob  Pouleson 
John  D,  Haring,  Jr. 
Johannes  Sicklese 
Isaac  T.  Blauvelt 
Isaac  Naugel 
William  Sickles 
Samuel  G.  Verbryck 
Abraham  Ferdon 
John  F.  Haring 
Thomas  Eckerson 
Isaac  Smith 
Powles  Powles 
Johannes  T.  Haring 
Johannes  Jacobus  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Bogert 
Abraham  D.  Vervalen 
Jacobus  Jos.  Blauvelt 
Resolvert  Auriyansen 
Richard  Blauvelt 
John  D.  Haring 
Jacobus  Perry,  Jr. 
Daniel  de  Clark 
Johannes  I.  Blauvelt 
William  Van  Dalsen 
John  Ferdon 
Cornelius  Eckerson 
Isaac  Haring 
Johannes  Bogert 


136 


LIST  OF  ELDERS  AND  DEACONS. 


ELECTBD. 

Oct.  26,  1799 
Nov.  23,  1800 


Oct.  22.  1801 
Nov.  10,  1802 
Oct.  19,  1803 
Oct.  26,  1804 
Oct.  23,  1805 
Oct.  31,  1806 
Nov.  4,  1807 
Oct.  20,  1808 
Nov.  8,  1809 

Nov.  10,  1810 
Nov.  13,  1811 
Oct.  21,  1812 
Oct.  28,  1813 
Oct.  26,  1814 
Oct.  19,  1815 
Oct.  30,  1816 
Oct.  29,  1817 
Nov.  5,  1818 
Oct.  6,  1819 
Nov.  8. 1820 
Oct.  31,  1821 


John  F.  Haring 
Simon  Van  Antwerp 
Barent  Nagel 
Isaac  T.  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Joh.  Blauvelt 
James  Perry 

Johannes  Jacobus  Blauvelt 
Peter  Mabie 
John  D.  Haring 
Cornelis  Eckerson 
Johannes  Sickles 
William  Van  Dalsen 
David  N.  Demarest 
Isaac  Haring 
Abraham  J.  Blauvelt 
Barent  H.  Nagel 
Peter  A.  Haring,  Jr. 
Cornelius  D.  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Isaacs  Blauvelt 
Johannes  W.  Ferdon 
William  Sickles 
William  Sickles 
John  F.  Haring 

John  D.  Haring 
Abraham  Ferdon 
Richard  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  Ackerman 
John  G.  Bogert 
Daniel  Auriyansea 
James  Perry 
Jacob  Blauvelt 
Garret  Naugle 
Roelof  Verbryck 
Isaac  Haring 
Garret  Haring 
Daniel  J.  Haring 
Barent  Naugle 
William  Sickels 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
John  J.  Naugle 
John  David  Haring 
Peter  Perry 
Tunis  Cooper 
John  Powles 
John  W".  Ferdon 
Frederick  G.  Haring 
Richard  Blauvelt 


Abraham  I.  Haring 
David  N.  Demarest 
John  A.  Blauvelt 
Jacob  Johannes  Blauvelt 

Peter  Perry 
Daniel  I.  Auriyanse 
Peter  A  Haring 
Jacobus  Demarest 
Joseph  G.  Blauvelt 
Johannes  Ferdon 
Samuel  Vervalen 
Johannes  Isaacs  Blauvelt 
John  J.  Nagel 
Gerrit  F.  Haring 
Daniel  Johannes  Haring 
Abraham  G.  Blauvelt 
Jacobus  G.  Haring 
Abraham  Clark  [velt 

Johannes  Hendrickse   Blau- 
Gerrit  Nagel 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
Stephen  Powles 
Douwe  Cuyper 
Daniel  John  Haring 
Johannes  Is.  Haring 
Abraham  Ackerman 
Roelof  Verbryck 
James  Lent 
John  J.  Smith 
David  C.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  Clark 
Douwe  Cooper 
John  D.  Haring 
Jacobus  C.  Halderom 
Stephen  Powles 
Jacob  I.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  J.  Demarest 
David  D.  Blauvelt 
John  A.  Ferdon 
Cornelius  J.  Blauvelt 
John  I.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  A.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  Auriyansen 
James  Demarest,  Jr. 
William  Degraw 
Frederick  J.  Haring 
Abraham  D.  Vervalen 


LIST  OF  ELDERS  AND   DEACONS. 


137 


ELECTED. 

Oct.  16,  1822 

Oct.  29,  1823 

Oct.  27,  18-24 

Oct.  20,  1825 

Nov.  1,  1826 

Nov.  12,  1827 

Oct.  22,  1828 

Oct.  14,  1829 

Oct.  20,  1830 

Oct.  25,  1831 

Oct.  24,  1882 

Oct.  19,  1833 

Nov.  5,  1834 

Nov.  18,  1835 

Nov.  6,  1836 

Oct.  7,  1837 

Oct.  13,  1838 

Oct.  19,  1889 

Oct.  3,  1840 

Oct.  9,  1841 

Oct.  1,  1842 

Sept.  30,  1843 

May  4,  1844 
Oct.  12, 1844 


ELDERS. 

Abraham  Clark 
Daniel  J.  Haring 
John  Is.  Haring 
Abraham  Eckerson 
Jacob  T.  Eckerson 
Stephen  Powles 
David  D.  Blauvelt 
Douwe  Cooper 
John  Daniel  Haring 
John  W.  Ferdon 
Cornelius  J.  Blauvelt 
Jacob  Blauvelt 
John  Powles 
Abraham  N.  Clark 
Tunis  Blauvelt 
John  F.  Haring 
Stephen  Powles 
Samuel  G.  Verbryck 
David  D.  Blauvelt 
Peter  Perry 
Jacob  I.  Blauvelt 
John  W.  Ferdon 
Joseph  G.  Blauvelt 
David  D.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  Clark 
Abraham  D.  Vervalen 
David  D.  Blauvelt 
P>ederick  I.  Haring 
Stephen  Powles 
Henry  Vervalen 
John  I.  Blauvelt 
John  J.  Haring 
Samuel  Haring 
Wandle  Van  Antwerp 
Abraham  Eckerson 
James  P.  Blauvelt 
Stephen  Powles 
Henry  Vervalen 
Tunis  Haring 
Cornelius  J.  Demarest 
Peter  Riker 
John  Powles 
John  I.  Haring 
Abraham  P.  Haring 
Stephen  Powles 
Jacob  Riker 
Justin  Demarest 


DEACONS. 

Cornelius  Isaac  Haring 
Tunis  Isaac  Blauvelt 
John  A.  Ferdon 
Abraham  F.  Haring 
John  I.  Blauvelt 
John  I.  Haring 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Jacob  I.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  D.  Vervalen 
Cornelius  J.  Demarest 
Daniel  Anderson 
Tunis  Haring 
James  J.  Demarest 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
John  J.  Blauvelt 
John  Demott 
Justin  Demarest 
James  Haldron 
Garret  A.  Eckerson 
Henry  Vervalen 
James  P.  Blauvelt 
Samuel  Haring 
Paul  Powles 
Tunis  Haring 
John  S.  Verbryck 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
John  Demott 
Silas  Miller 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
Garret  A.  Kckerson 
Harmen  Hoffman 
Jacob  Ryker 
James  J.  Demarest 
John  T.  Blauvelt 
John  V.  B.  Johnson 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Garret  Eckerson 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  C.  Demarest 
John  Demott 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
James  Schoonmaker 

David  Cole 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 


138 


LIST   OF  ELDERS  AND  DEACONS. 


ELECTED. 

Oct.  3,  1845 
Oct.  10,  1846 
Oct.  9, 1847 
Oct.  6,  1848 
Oct.  13,"  1849 
Oct.  12,  1850 
Oct.  11,  1851 
Oct.  16,  1853 
Oct.  15,  1853 
Oct.  14,  1854 
Oct.  13,  1855 
Oct.  11,  1856 
Nov.  16,  1857 
Oct.  16,  1858 
Oct.  3,  1859 
Oct.  30,  1860 
Oct.  12,  1861 
Oct.  17,  1863 
Oct.  17,  1863 
Oct.  15,  1864 
1865 
Oct.  30,  1866 
Oct.  19,  1867 
Oct.  17,  1868 


ELDERS. 

Frederick  J.  Haring 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Samuel  Haring 
Henry  Vervalen 
John  T.  Blauvelt 
James  J.  Demarest 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
Tunis  Haring 
Garret  A.  Eckerson 
James  P.  Blauvelt 
Jacob  Riker 
Peter  Depew 
James  Schoonmaker 
John  Demott 
John  J.  Haring 
Richard  Van  Dien 
Albert  M.  Bogert 
James  J.  Demarest 
Justin  Demarest 
Abraham  A.  Haring 
John  T.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp 
Richard  Van  Dien 
Cornelius  R.  Haring 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Gabriel  Hill 
Thomas  Lippincott 
Frederick  J.  Haring 
James  P.  Blauvelt 
Henry  Vervalen 
Abraham  A.  Haring 
Tunis  Haring 
Cornelius  .J.  Demarest 
John  J.  Blauvelt 
Samuel  Haring 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
John  A.  Hopper 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp 
Richard  Van  Dien 
John  Haring,  Jr. 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Gabriel  Hill 
John  Huyler 
Cornelius  J.  Smith 
Cornelius  R.  Haring 
James  Schoonmaker 
John  S.  Verbryck 


DEACONS. 

Isaac  Sloat 
Garret  A.  Eckerson 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
John  Hopper 
Cornelius  R.  Haring 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp 
Cornelius  C.  Demarest 
Richard  Van  Dien 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
Cornelius  C.  Blauvelt 
Abraham  A.  Haring 
Nicholas  Lansing  Blauvelt 
James  A.  Eckerson 
Peter  T.  Haring 
David  J.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  R,  Haring 
Isaac  Sloat 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  G.  Blauvelt 
Henry  Stephens 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
Samuel  A.  Haring 
N.  Lansing  Blauvelt 
James  A.  Eckerson 
Peter  T.  Haring 
David  J.  Blauvelt 
Samuel  A.  Haring 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
John  Haring,  Jr. 
.Tames  A.  Eckerson 
John  Huyler 
John  T.  Haring 
James  D.  Edwards 
James  A.  Eckerson 
Peter  T.  Haring 
Howard  Ilasbrouck 
John  J.  Bogert 
John  T.  Haring 
Samuel  A.  Haring 
N.  Lansing  Blauvelt 
James  A.  Eckerson 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
William  B.  Slocum 
George  M.  Haring 
Howard  Hasbrouck 
B.  Kirby  Verbryck 
Peter  T.  Haring 
Garret  Van  Blarcom 


LIST   OF  ELDERS  AND  DEACONS. 


139 


ELECTED. 

Oct.  23,  1869 

Oct.  22,  1870 

Oct.  14,  1871 

Jan.  13, 1873 
Oct.  19,  ?872 

Oct.  18,  1873 

Dec.  6,  1873 
Nov.  7,  1874 

Nov.  6,  1875 

Oct.  28,  1876 

Oct.  20,  1877 
Nov.  2,  1878 

Oct.  18,  1879 
Oct.  30,  1880 
Nov.  5,  1881 
Oct.  28,  1882 
Nov.  24,  1883 
Nov.  22,  1884 
Nov.  27,  1885 
Nov.  20,  1886 
Dec.  10,  1887 
Dec.  1,  1838 
Nov.  16,  1889 


ELDERS. 

Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
James  A.  Eckerson 
Richard  Van  Dien 
Garret  C.  Blauvelt 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum 
James  A.  Eckerson 
N.  Lansing  Blauvelt 
John  S.  Verbryck 
John  Huyler 
Abraham  B.  Haring 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp 
William  B.  Slocum 
Samuel  A.  Haring 
James  Schoonmaker 
Albert  Bogert  Eckerson 
John  T.  Haring 
JohnG.  Bell 
John  Huyler 
James  B.  Gruman 
James  B.  Gruman 
John  T.  Haring 
Abraham  B.  Haring 
John  G.  Bell 

Cornelius  R.  Haring 

Albert  B.  Eckerson 

Samuel  A.  Haring 

Isaac  Blauvelt 

John  Huyler 

Albert  B.  Eckerson 

John  T.  Haring 

Isaac  Blauvelt 

Edwin  Lydecker 

Abram  C.  Eckerson 

Abram  F.  Haring 

Abram  C.  Holdrum 

John  T.  Haring 

Edwin  Lydecker 

"William  Devoe 
Abram  C.  Holdrum 
James  H.  Smith 
Abram  B.  Ilariag 
John  T.  Haring 
William  Devoe 
Edwin  Lydecker 
Abram  C.  Holdrum 


DEACONS. 

Abraham  B.  Haring 
James  Bartow 
A.  Bogert  Eckerson 
John  T.  Haring 
Samuel  A.  Haring 
Abraham  F.  Haring 

John  T.  Haring" 
A.  Bogert  Eckerson 
Edwin  Lydecker 
Abraham  C.  Holdrum 

Isaac  Haring 
Cornelius  G.  Eckerson 
Edwin  Lydecker 
Abram  C.  Holdrum 
Isaac  Haring 
Cornelius  G.  Eckerson 

Abraham  F.  Haring 

Abraham  C.  Holdrum 
Garret  Van  Blarcom 
William  Devoe 
James  Ottignon 
Edwin  Lydecker 
Abram  C.  Eckerson 
Abram  C.  Holdrum 
Jacob  B.  Eckerson 
Edwin  Lydecker 
WilliamJDevoe 
Abram  C.  Holdrum 
James  A.  Ottignon 
Jacob  B.  Blauvelt 
James  H.  Smith 
Andrew  H.  Haring 
James  C.  Demarest 
Garret  F.  Haring 
Tennis  A.  Haring 
Theodor.  Burrowes 
Abram  C.  Haring 
Peter  C.  Collignon 
Tenuis  A.  Haring 
Theodor. '.Burrowes 
Abram  F,  Haring 
James  A. 'Ottignon 
Abram  Blanch 


140 


LIST   OP  ELDERS  AND   DEACONS. 


ELECTED. 

Nov.  22,  1890 
Nov.  21,  1891 
Nov.  1,  1893 
Nov.  15,  1893 


ELDERS. 

Cornelius  E.  Demarest 
Joha  T.  Haring 
Edwin  Lydecker 
James  F.  Smith 
Abram  F.  Haring 
Abram  Blanch 
John  T.  Haring 
William  Devoe 


DEACONS. 

Jacob  B.  Blauvelt 
Theodor.  Burrowes 
Peter  W.  Mabie 
Garret  Van  Blarcom 
Andrew  F.  Haring 
Cornelius  De  Pew 
Jacob  B.  Blauvelt 
Peter  W.  Mabie 


The  present  Consistory  (October  24,  1894)  consists  of  the  last 
four  elders  and  the  last  four  deacons  on  these  lists. 


ROLL*  OF  MEMBERS  FROM  THE  ORGANIZATION. 


There  is  but  one  break  in  this  roll — viz. ,  from  July  4,  ]  754, 
to  March  21,  1785,  nearly  thirty-one  years.  Domine  Lansing, 
more  than  a  hundred  j^ears  ago,  found  this  portion  of  it  already 
lost.  On  the  5th  of  December,  1792,  he  made  this  entry  in  the 
record  book  : 

"Since  several  persons,  members  of  this  church,  who  made  their 
professions  of  faith  for  Domine  Verbiyck,  are  not  recorded  in  this 
book,  and  no  doubt  Mr.  Verbryck  had  their  names  pi'operly  recorded 
in  some  book  that  cannot  now  be  found,  having  been  lost  in  the  late 
war,  the  Eev.  Consistory  have  resolved  to  let  their  names  be  recorded 
in  the  church  book.    They  are  as  follows." 

Attached  to  this  note  are  the  names  of  eighty  members,  then 
living,  who  had  been  upon  the  lost  record.  These  will  appear 
here  in  our  printed  list  under  the  heading  "  Collected  and  Re- 
corded by  Domine  Lansing,  December  5,  1792." 

Note. — The  surnames  in  parentheses  in  the  early  years  of 
the  follo^ving  roll  are  not  upon  the  original  member  record,  but 
are  supplied  from  the  marriage  and  baptism  records  of  the 
church.  And  the  asterisk  (*)  prefixed  to  a  name  denotes  recep- 
tion by  certificate.  Probably  nearly  all  of  the  earliest  members 
were  thus  received,  but  the  book  does  not  indicate  this  fact, 
and  we  cannot  mark  it  now. 

I  retain  the  exact  book  spelhng  of  all  the  names,  except 
where  manifest  blunders  require  correction.  The  many  ways 
of  spelling  the  same  name  is  a  great  matter  of  interest  in  the 
old  records. 

The  letter  "m"  attached  to  a  name  indicates  present  mem- 
bership. 


142 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


Received  October  24,  1694. 
Lambert  Ariaense  (Smith)  and 
Margrietje  Blawvelt,  his  wife 
Cornelis  Haringh  and 
Cathalina  Flierboom,  his  wife 
Johannes  Blawvelt 
Cozijn  Haringh  and 
Maria  Blawvelt,  his  wife 
Teunis  Van  Houwte  and 
Trijntje  Claesen  (Kuyper),  his  wife 
Teunis  Taelman  and 
Brechtje  Haringh,  his  wife 

October  23,  1695. 

Mijnert    Hendrickse    (Hogenkamp) 
and 

Janitje  (de  Puy),  his  wife 

Johannes  Minne  (or  Minnelay)  and 

Annitje  Joachims,  his  wife 

Pieter  Haring  and 

Grietje  Jause  Bogaert,  his  wife 
' Jacob  Cool  and 
1  Barbara  (Flanse  or  Janse),  his  wife 

Jan  Waard  and 

Grietje  (de  Puuw),  his  wife 

Jacob  Flierboom  and 

Maria  Haringh,  his  wife 

Conraet  Hansen  and 

Leuntje  (Magielse),  his  wife 

Maria  Pieterse,  wife  of  Isaac  Blaw- 
velt 

Grietje  Minne,  wife  of  Abram  Blau- 
velt 

Jan  d'Vries 

Casper  Springsteen  and 

Marij  Foos,  his  wife 

Daniel  de  Clerck  and 

Grietje  Cozyns,  his  wife 

Cornelis  Claesen  Cuyper  and 

Aeltie  Bogaerts,  his  wife 

Annitje  Cornelise  Cuyper 
'^Annitje  Jedens  (or  Idens)  Van  Vorst 

Catharina  Meijer 

1  These  were  the  paternal  great-great-grandparents  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole,  pastor  of  the 
church  from  1829  to  1864. 

2  She  was  the  wife  of  Jan  Jansen  (in  the  church  books  Johannes)  Meyer,  and  both  the 
maternal  great-great-grandmother  of  Rev,  Isaac  D.  Cole  and  the  paternal  great-great- 
great-grandmother  of  Rev.  George  M.  S.  Blauvelt,  the  latter  of  whom  was  pastor  of  the 
churchfrom  1804  to  188:^.    Her  husband  united  with  the  church  January  17, 1705  (see  below). 


Annitje  Van  Houwten 
Geritje  Van  Houwten 
Jan  Claesen  Cuijper  and 
Trijntje  (Stratemaker),  his  wife 
Hendrick  Blawvelt  and 
Maritje  (Waldron),  his  wife 
Reijnier  Mynertse  (Heyserryck)  and 
Maritje    (Jacobse)    Vlierboom,    his 

wife 
Jeremij  CennifE  and 
Antje  (Woelfs),  his  wife 
Floris  Willemze  Crom  and 
Catalijne  (Ariaense),  his  wife 
Teuntje  Florise  Crom 
Albert  Minne  and 
Meenske  (Janse),  his  wife 

April  15,  1702. 
Lijsbeth,  wife  of  Reijn  Janse 
Sara,  wife  of  Jan  Perry 
Sara,  wife  of  Willem  Juwell 
Sara  de  Puw 

A2)ril  14,  1703. 
Mettje  Staatse  de  Groot 
Lysbeth  Claeze 
Magdaleene  Janze 
Marije  Janze 

July  30,  1704. 
*Jan  Van  Dalssen  and 
*Anna  Van  Raetsvelt,  his  wife 

Roelof  Van  Houten 

Abram  Haaringh 

January  17,  1705. 
Johannes  Meyer 
Klaes  Pieterse 
Gerrit  Blauvelt 
Koenraet  Hansen 
Marretie  Blauvelt 


April  U,  1705. 
Harmen  Blaauvelt 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


143 


October  17, 1705. 

*Seytye  Minnelay 
*Dirckye  Talema 
*Antye  Louweris  . 

June  26,  1706. 
Saertye  Cornells  Kuyper 

^   October  16,  1706. 
Teunis  Cornells  Kuyper 
Grletye  Haaringh 

January  15,  1707. 
Katelyntlje  Jonckbloet 

June  33,  1708. 
Klaes  Van  Houten 
Jannetye  Van  Houten 
Gerret  Lambertse  Smith 
Marretle  Lambertse  Smith 

October  13,  1708. 
*Jan  Dlrckse  Stratemakers 
*Neeltle  Janse  Buys 
*Andrles  Juriaense 
*Geertlje  Cosyns 

January  11,  1709. 
Ari  Smldt 

June  39,  1709. 
Elisabet  Bennlt 
Jonas  Gerretse 
Marie  Gerrltse 

January  10,  1710. 
Joria  Jeuwel 
Jeremlach' Kennlff ,  Jr. 
Abigel  Cennef 

July  27,  1710. 

Iden  Meyyer 
Dlrckle  Meijijer 
Elisabeth  Van  Dalssen 
Geertruijt  Van  Dalssen 
Elisabeth  Kuljper 
Brechle  Haringh 

January  17,  1711. 
Kornelia  de  Groodt 


June  21,  1711. 

*Barent  Nagel  and 
*Sara  Klerse,  his  wife 

January  14,  1713. 
Angenietle  Kammegaer 

June  33,  1713. 
Tomas  Miller 

January  18,  1714. 
*Seytle  Tyse  Vllerboom 
June  33,  1714. 

Pletertie  Haringh 

Rensie  Blauvelt 

Elisabeth  Meljer 

Vroutle  Van  Houten 

Jakob  Abramse  Blauvelt 

Isack  A.  Blauvelt 

Jan  Westervelt  and 

Dlrckle  (Blauvelt),  his  wife 

Aeltie  Van  Dalssen 

Kornelia  Bogaert 

Kornelis  Eckersen 

Jakob  Meyer 
*Isack  Van  Dense  and 

*Mettie  ,    his  wife,   both 

Ackqeckenonck 

October  13,  1714. 


from 


Marytle    Bogaert,  wife    of    Mouris 

Klaerwater 
Joseph  Blauvelt 
Kornelis  Lammertse  Smldt 
Bernherd  Erssel 

January  11,  1715. 

Jan  Hogenkamp 
Gidlon  Vervelen  and 
Susanna  de  Graef,  his  wife 

Apnl  13,  1715. 

Douwe  Talema 

Anna  Kammegaer,   wife  of   Jakob 
Meyer 
*Bartholomeus  Vonck  and 
♦Geertruyt  Smit,  his  wife 


144 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


June  28,  1715. 

Margrietie     Hogenkamp,     wife    of 

Teunis  Talema 
Marytie  Haringh 

October  11,  1715. 
Kornelis  Kuyper 
Neeltie  Kuyper 

October  8,  1716  (?). 
Jan  Eckesen 

January  16,  1717. 
Maria  Van  Aernem 

June  26,  1717. 

Jan  Haringh 

Marytie  Haringh 

Grietie  Haringh— all    "children  of 

Kosyn  Haringh" 
Grietie  Haringh,  daughter  of  Cor- 

nelis  Haringh 

October  16,  1717. 

Cornelis  Smith 
*William  Van  Dalssen  and 
*Johanna  Buytenhoff,  his  wife,  "by 
certificate  from  Holland  " 

Ajml  15,  1718. 

Pieter  Bogaart 
Jacob  Coninck 
Klaasje  Coninck 
Marrijtie  Blaauvelt 
Geesie  Straat,  wife  of  Gerrit  Blaau- 
velt 

June  17,  1718. 

*Paulus  Jorckse,  "from  Hackensack" 
Dirckje     Smit,    wife     of     Cornelis 

Kuyper,  Jr. 
Catharyna  Smit 

October  14,  1718. 
Elisabeth  Van  Houten 

April  14,  1719. 
Gysbert  Crom 


October  14,  1119. 

Fijtie  Haring 
*Isack  de  Lamaitre  and 
*Beelitie  Waldron,  his  wife 
*Tanneke  Waldron,  "  from  New  Har 
lem" 

January  10,  1720. 
Ary  de  Witt 

August  1,  1721. 
Jan  Ariaensze 

October  11,  1721. 

Jurrien  Thomasse  and 
Aeltie  Van  AVinckel,  his  wife 
*Marrytie  Pieters,    wife  of    RoelofE 
Van  Houten,  "  from  Bergen  " 

April  10,  1733. 

Daniel  Blaauvelt 
Vroutje  Haringh 

July  23,  1723. 
Hillegont  Kuijper 

October  15,  1723. 
Ysebrandt  Kammega 

October  29,  1725, 
*Jan    Waldron,    "from    Manor    of 
Fordham" 
Janneke  Bogaart,  wife  of  Jan  Wal- 
dron 
Janneke  Straat 

Geertje    Hartje,    wife    of  Coenraet 
Roeger 

June  3,  1726. 
*Maria  Catharina  Cemmery,   wife  of 
Hannes  Motz,  "  from  Holland  "■ 
Jan  Van  Dalsem  and 
Dirckje  Taleman,  his  wife 
Cornelis  Eckecen  and 
Maria  Haringh,  his  wife 

October  4,  1726. 

Barent  Cool  and 

Cristijna  Doolhagen,  his  wife 


ROLL   OF   MEMBERS. 


145 


October  13,  1727, 

*Wilhelmus  Winter 
^Henderick  Snijder 
*Jobannes  Snijder 
*Hieronijmus  Velten 
*Joliann  Maximilian  Velden 
Lea  Straet 

*        ,  1728 

Abram  Abramse  Blauveldt  and 
Martyntje  de  Maree,  bis  wife 

April  17,  1729. 

Willem  de  Graeuw 
Machiel  Hertje 
Daniel  Sclmerman  and 
Willemje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Jan  Abr.  Haring 
Abram  Abr  Haring 
Theunis  Velden  and 
Marijtje  Engelbert,  his  wife 
Paulus  Gisselaer 
Hermanns  Gisselaer 
Stoffel  Bell 
Johannes  Kloeck 
Hamaatje  Kloeck 
Marijtje  Velden 
Gritje  Velden 
Cathrina  Hoffman 
Christina  Hoffman 

April  19,  1729. 

Jan  Haring, '  'son  of  Cornelis  Haring" 
*Philip  Melsback 
*Willem  Bell 

October  9,  1729. 
Abram  Haring  and 
Martyngen  Boogaert,  his  wife 
Johannes  Abr.  Blauwfeldt  and 
Rachel  de  Maree,  his  wife 

October  12,  1729. 

*Johaunes  Tromper 
*Johan  Jost  George 
*Johann  Wiegandt  Lepper  and 

*Agnes  Catharina ,  his  wife 

10 


April  — ,  1730. 
*Jan  Naegel 
*Jan  Boogaert 
*George  Richtmeijer 
*Sara  Nagel 
*Rebecca  Nagel 

July  23,  1730. 

Joris  Remsen  and 
Sara ,  his  wife 

July  25,  1730. 

Wilhelmus  Tremper 
Eva  Schlcmmerin 

October  16,  1730. 
Cornelius  Corn.  Haring 

Aiwil  15,  1731. 

Johannes  Boogaert 

Andrees  Meijer  and 

Hannaetje  (Hoist),  his  wife 

Jan  Kuijper 

Claesje  Haring,  wife  of  Adolf  Lent 

Alida  Verveelen 

April  16,  1731. 

Mattheis  Ekkese 
Jacob  Ekkese  and 
Tryntje  Kuijper,  his  wife 
Gabriel  Ludlow 
*Catharina  Ecker,  wife  of  Harmen 
Blauvelt 

July  29,  1731. 

*Jacob  Polhemus  and 
*jMarijtie  (Remsen),  his  wife 
*Stephen  Stephenz  and 
*Maria  Wijkof,  his  wife 
*Margrietje  Lijdius,  wife  of  Lancas- 
ter Sijmes 
Henderick  Kuijper 

January  1,  1732. 

Adrian  Straat  and 
Geertje  Casper,  his  wife 
*Maria  de    3Iarist,    wife  of  Abram 
Abr.  Haring 


146 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


April  7,  1732. 
Hermanus  Haring 
Margrithje  Haring 
Lea  Hoffman 
Rachel  Hoffman 


April  9,  1733. 

wife  of    Domine 


Mary   Ludlouw, 
Muzelius 


July  6,  1733. 

Thomas  Ekkesen  and 
Maria  de  Marest,  his  wife 

October  12,  1732. 

Cornelia  Nagel 
*.Johannes  Diederick  Schnijder 
*Hilletje    (Hardenbergh),     wife     of 

Jacobus  Van  der  Bilt 
*Fran9ois  Garnier  and 
*Anne  (Secart),  his  wife 
*Cathrina  (Derjee),  wife  of  Timothy- 
Town 

December  31,  1732. 
Pieter  Boogaert 
Richard  Trueman 
Isaac  Verveelen 

March  23,  1733. 

*Henry  Ludlow  and 
*Mary  Corbett,  his  wife 
Jacob  Haring  and 
Marijtie  Boogaert,  his  wife 
Maria    Salomons,    wife    of     Wilm 
Smidt 
*Cathrina  Nax,  wife  of  Theunis  de 
Klerck 

January  23,  1733. 

Rachel  du  Marest,   wife  of  Abram 
Abramse  Blaeuwveldt 

July  1,  1733. 

*Sara  Nagel,  wife  of  Peter  Oblinus 
Mary  Sicca 
Mary  Seratje 


April  12,  1734. 
Andries  Pieterse 
Nicolaes  Melsbach 
Elisabeth  Blaeuwvelt,   wife  of  Jan 
Nagel 
*Sara    Hanmore,     wife    of     Gabriel 
Ludlow 

August  1,  1734. 
Cornelia  Verveelen 
*Rem  Remse  and 
*Aelt]e  Bergen,  his  wife 
*Johan  Arent  Dauffenbach  and 
*Cathrina  Hurler,  his  wife 
*Anna    Geertruijd    Erbis,   wife    of 
Barent  Jansen 

October  12,  1734. 
Frances  Duncan,   wife   of    Gabriel 
Ludlow 

January  1,  1735. 
*Jannetje  Doremes,  wife  of  Machiel 
Hertje 

April  4,  1735. 
Claes  Kuijper  and 
Helena  Westerveldt,  his  wife 
Lea  Hertje 
*Margaretha  Erbis 

May  12,  1735. 
*Arnout  Abrahamse  and 
*Angenietje  Bergen,  his  wife 

October  9,  1735. 
Lena  Blauvelt,  wife  of  Jan  Talema 
Rebecca  Nagel 

January  4,  1736. 
Henderick  Remse  and 
Catalyntje  (Remse),  his  wife 
Andries  Onderdonck  and 
Marretje  Remse,  his  wife 
Huybertus  Blaeuwvelt 

April  33,  1736. 

David  de  Marist 
Abraham  Quackenbosch  and 
Susanna  Helling,  his  wife 
Die  vert  j  en  Quackenbosch,   wife  of 
Frederick  Woertendijck 


ROLL  OP  MEMBERS. 


147 


October  7,  1736. 
Antjen  Quackenbosch 

October  9,  1736. 
William  Ludlow 

January  2,  1737. 
*Jacob  Ferdon 
*Williaaa  Ferdon  and 

*Elisabeth ,  his  wife 

*William  Sickles  and 
*Elisabeth  Kuijper,  bis  wife 
*Jacob  Tourneur  and 
*Jacomyntje  Oblinus 

April  7,  1737. 
Paul  us  Hoppe 
Jacob  Quackenbosch  and 
Hannaetje  Brouwer,  his  wife 
Matheis  Boogaert  and 
Margrietje  Talema,  his  wife 
Theunis  Van  Houten 
Barent  Jansen 
Rachel  Van   Hoorn,  wife  of  Pieter 

Boogaert 
Jannetje  Hogenkamp 

June  —,  1737. 
Johannes  Roeger  and 
Hester  Verveelen,  his  wife 
Jannetje  Boeckhout,  wife  of  Mijn- 

dert  Hogenkamp 
Marretje  Blauvelt 

December  26,  1737. 
Isaac  Blauvelt 
Abram  Cool  and 
Annetje  Meijer,  his  wife 
Myndert  Hogenkamp  and 
Lena  Krom,  his  wife 
Johannes  Blauvelt 
Marretje  Blauvelt 
Annetje  Blauvelt 
Aeltje  Meijer 

March  31,  1738. 
Pieter  Oblinis 
Jacob  Straet  and 
Sara  Eckkese,  his  wife 
Theunis  Van  Houten 


Johannes  Blauvelt 
Margrietje    Meijer,    wife     of     Jo- 
hannes Georganse 
Hannaetje  Hogenkamp 
Cathrina  Van  Houten 
Wilhelmina  Van  Houten 
Maria  Boogaert 
Margrietje  Smith 
Annetje  Blaeuwvelt 

June  22,  1738. 

^  Johannes  Hogenkamp 
Cornells  Smidt  and 
Maria  Haringh,  his  wife 
Cathrina  Hogenkamp 

December  31,  1738. 

Cathrina  Everet,  wife  of  Jan  Boo- 
gaert 

April  20,  1739. 

Adolph  Lent 

David  Blauvelt  and 

Maria  de  Klerck,  his  wife 

Willem  Halderom 

Elisabeth  Meijer,   wife  of   Thomas 

Eckkese 
Helena  Eckkese 
Willemijntje  Meijer 

Ai)ril  22,  1739. 
Gerrit  Snediger  and 
Aeltje  Brinckerhoff,  his  wife 

July  26,  1739. 

Petri!  s  Blauvelt 

Petrus  Smidt 

Rachel  Blaeuwveldt,  wife  of  Cor- 
nells Eckkese 

Sara  Blaeuwveldt,  wife  of  Theunis 
Haringh 

Margrietje  Smidt 

January  1,  1740. 
*Isaac  Maris  and 
*Tryntje  Kool,  his  wife 
Elisabeth  Loyd,  widow  of  Thomas 
Pullin 


148 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


April  3,  1740. 
Jan  Halderom 
Jacobus  Blauvelt  and 
Elisabeth  Everet,  his  wife 
Arie  Ariaense 
Daniel  Verveelen 
Treijntje    Van    Schijven,    wife    of 

Isaac  Verveelen 
Margrietje  Pieterse,  wife  of  Willem 

Halderom 
Elizabeth  Nagel 
Cathrina  Nagel 

April  6,  1740. 
Pieter  Stephese  and 
Margrietje  Kuijper,  his  wife 

June  37,  1740. 
Edward  Eckkese  and 
Maria  Bortien,  his  wife 
Isaac  Blauvelt 
Abram  Abrahamze 

October  9,  1740. 
Theunis  Haringh 

January  4,  1741. 
Dirck  de  Klerck  and 
Effje  Toerneur,  his  wife 

March  36,  1741. 

Wilm  Nagel 
Henderick  Nagel 
Daniel  Haringh 

March  29,  1741. 

Stephe  Stephese 

Maria    Blauvelt,     wife    of     Petrus 
Blauvelt 

July  5,  1741. 

Aeltje     Minne,    wife    of     "William 
Gamble 

November  1,  1741. 
Lena  Pullin 

January  1,  1743. 
Jannetje  Blauvelt 


Aiml  15,  1742. 

Brechie  Haringh 
Catalyntje  Haringh 
Marretje  Nagel 

June  20,  1743. 
*Cornelis  Steg  and 
*Antje  Christy,  his  wife 
*Johannes  Pieter  Erbis  and 
*Catharina  Stockholm,  his  wife 

June  24,  1742. 
Petrus  Van  Houten 
Gerrit  Van  Houten 
Roeloff  Van  Houten 
Grietje  Van  Houten 

October  14,  1743. 
Annetje  Haringh 

August  11,  1743. 
Elisabeth  De  Klerck 

Ncoemfier  20,  1743. 
♦Johannes  Walderom  and 
*Susanna  De  La  Metre,  his  wife 
*Cathrina  Walderom,  wife  of  John 
Vische 

April  22,  1744. 
Jannetje  Toerneur 
Grietje  Kuijper 

July  19,  1744. 
*John  Rycke  and 
*Geertruydt  Wilse,  his  wife 
Elisabeth  Snediger,  widow  of  Joris 
Remse 

July  23,  1744. 
*Neeltje  Polhemus,  wife  of  Theunis 
Suedeker 

October  18,  1744. 
*.Iohn  Martin  and 
*Effje  Maijbe,  his  wife 
*Abraham  De  La  Maitre  and 
*Cathariua  Bensing,  his  wife 

December  25,  1744. 
Jannetje  Van   Der  Beeck,   wife    of 
Bernard  us  Verveelen 


ROLL   OF  MEMBERS. 


149 


April  11,  1743. 
*Alexander  Weber 
Lena  Eckkese,  wife  of  Willielmus 

Krom 
Abraham  Akkerman 
Rijnier  Woertendijck 
Theuuis  Blauvelt 
Elisabeth  Woertendyck 
Griet]*  Blauvelt 
Claesje  Woertendyck 
Susanna  Weber 
Mar  ret  je  Weber 
Geertruijdt  Weber 
Cathriua  Weber 

August  1,  1745. 
*Adriaen  Onderdonck  and 
*Sarah  Snediker,  his  wife 

Gerrit  Ekkese  and 

Grietje  Haringh,  his  wife 

January  1,  1746. 

Daniel  de  Klerck 
Johannes  Haringh 
Abraham  Server 
Cathrina  Blauvelt 
Brechie  Smidt 

March  27,  1746. 
Jacob  De  Klerck 
Joost  De  Baen 


Jacob  Server  and 

Cathrina  Beer,  his  wife 

Theunis  Smidt  and 

Elizabeth  Beek,  his  wife 

Gerrit  Blauvelt 

Johannes  Abrahamse 

Cornelis  Haringh 

Cornells  Ekkese 

David  de  Marest 

Johanna    Nagel,   wife    of    Nicolaes 

De  Marest 
Cathrina  Blauvelt 
Agnietje  Abrahamse 
Sarah  Abrahamse 
Elizabeth  Blauvelt 
Wilmtje  Ekkese 
Elisabeth  Van  Houten 

July  31,  1746. 
Cornelis  Kuijper 

Oetober  9,  1746. 
Rebecca  Westgate 

April  16,  1747. 
Abraham  Haringh  and 
Elisabeth  Mai j  be,  his  wife 
*Jannetje    Durje,    wife   of    Reijnier 
Woertendijck 

February  7,  1748. 
*Richart  Blanch  and 
*Klaasje  Van  Giese,  his  wife 


Here  begins  the  pastorate  of  Domine  Verbryck: 


December  19,  1750. 
Gerrit  Onderdonck  and 
Sarah  Hegeman,  his  wife 
*Susanna    Van    De  Linde,    wife    of 

Domine  Verbryck 
*Lena  Alje,  wife  of  Willem  Nagel 

April  4,  1751. 
Floris  Crom  and 
Seytie  Brouwer,  his  wife 
Abraham  Kuyper  and 
Sarah  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Jacob  Woertendyck 
Rem  Bell 


Janneke  Nagel 
Sarah  Nagel 
Marritie  Kuyper 

June  20,  1751. 

Cornelius  Abr.  Haringh  and 
Margarita  Roelefse,  his  wife 
Cornelis  L.  Smith 
Elizabeth  Hoist 
Grietje  Haringh 

October  2,  1751. 
Hermanus  Van  Huysen 


150 


ROLL   OF  MEMBERS. 


December  26,  1751. 
Maria   Haring,    wife  of    Jacob   J. 
Blauvelt; 
*Peter  Vonck 

March  19,  1753 
Jan  Flierboom  and 
Aaltje  Woertendyck  his  wife 
Jan  De  Baan  and 
Catalyntje  Haring,  his  wife 
Jan  Perrie,  Jr. 
Johannes  Smit 
Elizabeth    Haring,    wife   of    Leen- 

dert  De  Graauw 
Fredericus  Haring 
Rachel  Haring 
Elizabeth  Fliereboom 
*Maria    Peeck,     wife    of     Cornells 

Corn.  Smit 


June  19,  1753. 
Elizabeth  Haringh,  wife  of  Corne- 
lia Janse  Haringh 

June  29,  1753. 
*Cathalina  Kip 

December  27,  1753. 
Henndrick  Blaauwvelt 
Gerrit  Remmerse  Verbryck 
Sarah    Blaauwvelt,    wife   of    Har- 
manus  Van  Huysen 
*Roelof  Van  Houten  and 
*Catharina  Nagel,  his  wife 
*Mareytie   Van    Vost,    wife   of  Ger- 
rit Hennions 

July  4,  1754. 
Aantje  Carmer,    wife    of  John  De 
Wind 


Collected  and  recorded  by  Domine  Lansing,  December  5, 
1792,  as  then  still  living  and  known  to  have  been  received  by 
Domine  Verbryck  between  July  4,  1754,  and  March  21,  1785: 


Cornelius  Blauvelt  and 

Margrietje  Ryker,  his  wife 

Rynier  Quackenboss  and 

Sara  Derick,  his  wife 

William  Sickelse  and 

Marritje  Cuyper,  his  wife 

Jan  Hogenkamp  and 

Elizabeth  Van  Houten,  his  wife 

Johannis  Sickelse 

Robert  Sickelse 

Sara  Sickelse,  wife  of  Albert  Lyd- 
dekker 

Annitje  Haring,  wife  of  Cornelius 
Kuyper 

Lijbetje  Kuyper,  wife  of  William 
Sickels 

Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  wife  of  Cor- 
nelius Mabie 

Jan  Perry  and 

Elizabeth  De  Clark,  his  wife 

Margrieta  Haring,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Blauvelt 

Johanis  Haring  and 

Margrietje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 


Frederick  Haring  and 

Rachel  Haring,  his  wife 

Jan  Hogenkamp  and 

Aaltje  Haring,  his  wife 

Jacob  Woertendyck  and 

Maria  Haring,  his  wife 

Cornelius  Haring  and 

Elizabeth  Haring,  his  wife 

Margrita  Peterson,  wife  of  William 

Haldron 
Annetje   De   Clark,    wife  of  Peter 

Perry 
Margrieta    Haring,    wife    of   Isaac 

Perry 
Margrieta    Jansen,     wife    of    John 

Bryan 
Abraham  Blauvelt 
Cornelia    Haring,     wife    of  Gerrit 

Haring 
Gerrit  Ekkersen  and 
Margrietje  Haring,  his  wife 
Thomas  Blanch  and 
Efje  Mabie,  his  wife 
Maria  Roeger,  wife  of  Lyas  Walding 


ROLL  OP  MEMBERS. 


151 


Benjamin  Blackledge  and 

Catalyntje  Taalman,  his  wife 

Sara  Bogert,   wife  of  Matthias  Bo- 
gert 

Margrietje  Taalman,   wife  of  Mat- 
thias Bogert 

Barnardus  Verveelen  and 

Marritje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

Martin^Poulensen  and 

Lydia  Banta,  his  wife 

Arie  Aurijansen  and 

Elizabeth  Ellington,  his  wife 

Johanis  Vervelen  and 

Sara  Westervelt,  his  wife 

Daniel  Verveelen 

Heudrick  Nagel 
'  Barent  Nagel 

Jan  Aarijansen 

William  Nagel  and 

Lena  Aljee,  his  wife 

Brechje  Haring,   wife  of  Jan  Fer- 
don 

Cornelia    Vervelen,   wife    of    Peter 
Van  Schyven 

Catrina  Persel,  wife  of  Frederickus 
Vervelen 

Johanis  Blauvelt 

Johanis  Nagel 


Willimpje  Ekkerson,  wife  of  Cas- 
parus  Mabie 

Catrina  Nagel,  wife  of  Rulef  Van 
Houten 

Margrietje  Blauvelt,  wife  of  John 
Ryker 

David  Edwards 

Johanis  Bell  and 

Maria  Ryker,  his  wife 

Maria  Clark,  wife  of  Johanis  Blau- 
velt 

Frederikus  Blauvelt  and 

Anna  ^laria  De  Wint,  his  wife 

Nanny  Jeffers,  wife  of 'Jacob  Ko- 
ning 

Peter  Haring  and 

Maria  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

Sara  Haring,  wife  of  Abram  A. 
Haring 

Elizabeth  Haring,  wife  of  Leen- 
dert  De  Graauw 

David  Haring  and 

Elizabeth  Ferdon,  his  wife 

Maria  De  Clark,  wife  of  Jan  Vlier- 
boom 

Catrina  Everit,  wife  of  Jan  Bo- 
gert 

John  De  Wint 


Reopening  of  the  record  (after  the  break  of  thirty-one  years). 
What  next  follows  is  the  record  of  Domine  Lansing's  own  work: 


March  21,  1783. 


Abraham  Ferdon  and 
Sarah  Poulense,  his  wife 
David  Nagel  and 
Dirkje  Haring,  his  wife 
Gradus  Rykert  and 
Grietje  Nagel,  his  wife 
Thomas  Demarest  and 
Lena  Nagel,  his  wife 
Resolvert  Aarijanse  and 
Deborah  Verveelen,  his  wife 


Isaac  Nagel  and 
Maria  Aarijanse,  his  wife 
Maria  Bensen,  wife  of  Barent  Na- 
gel 
Abraham  Vervelen  and 
Elizabeth  Bensen,  his  wife 
Poulus  Poulense 
Jacob  Poulense  and 
Jannetje  Vervelen,  his  wife 
Jan  Gerritse  Harinor 


>  It  is  remarkable  that  at  this  late  day  we  can  add  to  this  list  of  eigfhty  a  member  not 
down  upon  it-viz.,  Janneke  Westervelt,  wife  of  this  Barent  Nasel.  Nine  loose  certificates 
of  more  than  a  century  apo  still  exist  among:  the  preserved  treasures  of  the  church,  one  of 
which  is  hers  from  the  church  of  Paramus,  dated  January  20,  1775.  It  is  the  only  one  of 
the  nine  that  falls  within  this  break. 


152 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


March  24,  1785, 

*Catlyntje  Bensen,  widow  of  Isaac 
La  Maitre,  from  New  York 

*Dorcas  Sarah  Dickinson,  wife  of 
Domine  Nicholas  Lansing,  from 
Dr.  Westerlo's  church,  Albany 

August  18,  1785. 

John  Daniel  Haring  and 

Jannetje  Sickels,  his  wife 

Cornelius  Ekkerson  and 

Elizabeth  Haring,  his  wife 

David  Bogart 

Teunis  Snyder  and 

Catrina  Huisraat,  his  wife 

Daniel  De  Clark  and 

Sarah  Nagel,  his  wife 
*Johanis  Vredenburg  and 
*Maria  Forbish,  his  wife 

December  22,  1785. 
Maria    Ferdon,   wife    of    Hendrick 

Blauvelt 
Samuel  Gerritse  Verbryck  and 
Heyltje  Remsen,  his  wife 
Jan  Ekkerson  and 
Gerritje  Hogenkamp,  his  wife 
Wyntje  Lent,  wife  of  Gerrit  Smith 
Petrus  Light 
Maria  Nagel,  wife  of  Paulus   Pou- 

lense 

February  13,  1786. 
Brandt  Schuyler  Lupton 

July  31,  1786. 
Joseph  Witting  and 
Catlyntje  Miller,  his  wife 
Teunis  Smith  and 
Rachel  Haring,  his  wife 
Petrus  G.  Haring  and 
Elizabeth  Haring,  his  wife 

December  7,  1786. 
Cornelia  Rykman,   wife  of     David 
Bogart 

April  12,  1787. 
Isaac  Blauvelt 
Peter  Casparus  Mabee 
Isaac  T.  Blauvelt  and 
Rachel  Demurest,  his  wife 


John  I.  Haring  and 

Cathlyntje  Mabee,  his  wife 

John  F.  Haring  and 

Jakamyntje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

Jacobus  Perry  and 

Catrina  Haring,  his  wife 

Elizabeth  Rykert,  wife  of  Abraham 

Blauvelt 
Jakamyntje  Boskerk 
Ryndert  Hopper 
Rensje  Ekkerson,  wife  of  John  G. 

Haring 

August  3,  1787. 

Abraham  G.  Haring  and 

Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

Edi  Akkerman  and 

Rachel  Salyer,  his  wife 

Joseph  G.  Blauvelt  and 

Catrina  Perry,  his  wife 

Fanny  Mabee,  wife  of  Jan  Talman 

Margrietje  Lent,  wife  of  Joseph  H. 
Blauvelt 

Leah  Edwards,  wife  of  Casparus 
Mabee 

Annetje  De  Clark,  widow  of  Nicho- 
las Sickels 

Elizabeth  De  Clark,  wife  of  John 
Sickels 

Martha  Halsted 

Susanna  Boskerk 

Isaac  Haring  and 

Maria  Haring,  his  wife 

Thomas  Ekkeson  and 

Maria  Bogert,  his  wife 

October  25,  1787. 
Teunis  Kuyper  and 
Margrietje  Talman,  his  wife 
Abraham  Rykert  and 
Elizabeth  Conklin,  his  wife 
David  Smith  and 
Cornelia  Blanch,  his  wife 
Casparus  Mabee 
Jacob  Johanis  Blauvelt 
Johanis  Jobs.  Blauvelt 
Claesje  Blanch 
Richard  Blauvelt  and 
Sarah  Van  Dalssem,  his  wife 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


158 


April  17,  1788. 

Johanis  Jacobus  Blauvelt 

Thomas  Outwater  and 

Francynt  je  Ellis,  his  wife 

Jacobus  Perry  and 

Annetje  Demarest,  his  wife 

Johanis  G.  Bogert  and 

Catrina  Mabee,  his  wife 

Edwftrd  Salyer  and 

Elizabeth  Cox,  his  wife 

Isaac  Smith  and 

Rachel  Smith,  his  wife 

Hendrick  Verbryck  and  * 

Antje  Johnson,  his  wife 

Isaac  C.  Blauvelt  and 

Lenah  Cornelisse,  his  wife 

John  Cornelisse 

Maria  Perry,  wife  of  Teunis  Blau- 
velt 

Catrina  Perry,  widow  of  David 
Blauvelt 

Petrus  Demarest  and 

Sarah  Terneur,  his  wife 

Johanis  T.  Haring 

July  20,  1788. 
*Tobias  Rykman,  from  Hackensack 

August  — ,  1788. 
*John  Van  Alen  and 
^Elizabeth  Post,  his  wife 
*Philip  Minthorne  and 

*Tanneke ,  his  wife 

*Gerrit  Blauvelt  and 
*Annetje  Meyer,  his  wife 
*Jacob  Van  Orden  and 
*Catrina  Poulense,  his  wife 

October  — ,  1788. 
*Aaron  Gilbert,  from  New  York 
*Simon  Duryee  and 
*Jannetje  Duryee,  his  wife, 
both  from  Bushwick,  L.  I. 

November  6,  1788. 
Catrina  Smith,  wife  of  Jacobus  D. 

Blauvelt 
Abraham  Meebee 
Abraham  Clark 


August  — ,  1789. 
*Willem  Ellis,  from  New  York 
Peter  A.  Mabie 
Eff je  De  Clark,  wife  of  Cornelius  A. 

Mabie 
Catalyntje    Mabie,  wife    of    Isaac 
Onderdonk 

August  12,  1790. 

Margaret  Bagley,  wife  of  William 
Graham 

October  21,  1790. 
*Jacobus  J.  Blauvelt  and 
*Jannetje  De  Baan,  his  wife 

October—,  1791. 
*Ann  Quackenboss,  wife  of  Joseph 
Baldwin,  from  New  York 

April  13,  1792. 
Jan  De  Baen  and 
Claasje  Quackenboss,  his  wife 

October  26,  1792. 
Jacobus  Demarest  and 
Rachel  Smith,  his  wife 

July  —,  1793. 
*Isaac  Kip  and 
*Antje  De  Wint,  his  wife,  both  from 

New  York 
*Efje   Demarest,  wife  of   Jan  Aari- 

janse,  from  Schraalenbergh 

April  7,  1794. 
Leah  Poulense,  wife  of  Isaac  Nagel 
August  — ,  1794. 
*Gerrit  Cozine 

April  23,  1795. 
Johanis  Isaac  Blauvelt 
Maria    Durjee,  wife  of    John    De 
Graauw 

November  6,  1795. 
Abraham  Haring  and 
Maria  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Jacobus  Haring  and 
Rachel  Hariug,  his  wife 
Peter  Perry,  Jr.,  and 
Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  his  wife 


154 


ROLL  OP  MEMBERS. 


Harme  Blauvelt  and 
Chrisje  Haring,  bis  wife 
Cornelius  Quackenbos  and 
Mary  Tbompson,  bis  wife 

April  15,  1796. 
*Elizabetb  Ellswortb,  widow  of  James 

Scott 
*William  Van  Dalsen  and 
*Geertje  Sickles,  bis  wife,  all  from 

New  York 

October  13,  1796. 
*Jobn  Van  Dalssem  and 
*Magdalena  Cbristie,  bis  wife,  both 
from  Scbraalenbergb 

May  11,  1797. 
*Simon  Van  Antwerp  and 
*Mary  Bussing, 

botb  from  New  York 
Andries  Van  Orden 
Jobn  Ferdon  and 
Maritje  Slckels,  bis  wife 

August  17,  1797. 
Daniel  Aarijanse  and 
Cbristina  Cole,  bis  wife 
David  M.  Demarest  and 
Marritje  De  Clark,  bis  wife 
Alida  Ver    Valen,  wife    of  Gerrit 

Aarijanse 
Elizabetb    Town,   wife   of   Andries 

Van  Orden 

March  25,  1798. 
*GeGrtje  Snyder,  wife  of  Jobanis  Van 
Dalsem 

August  2,  1798. 
Tbom  Brown,  colored,  slave  of  Ba- 
rent  Nagel 

November  8,  1798. 
Jobanis  Ferdon  and 
Sopbia  Westervelt,  bis  wife 
Margrietje    Smitb,    wife    of    Jacob 

Jobanis  Blauvelt 
Tbom,   colored,   slave  of   Abrabam 

Ferdon 


April  27,  1799. 
Hendrick  Astler  and 
Lenab  Ryerson,  bis  wife 
Magdalena  Outwater 

August  15,  1799. 
Jobn  A.  Blauvelt  and 
Cornelia  Aarijanse,  bis  wife 
Jobn  J.  Nagel  and 
Cornelia  Aarijanse,  bis  wife 
Benjamin  Blackledge  and 
Deborab  Westervelt,  bis  wife 
Maria  Westervelt,   wife  of   Daniel 
R.  Aarijanse 

October  26,  1799. 
Peter  D.  Haring  and 
Maria  Haring,  his  wife 

Ajyril  26,  1800. 
Catrina  Blauvelt,  wife  of  Abrabam 

Wbitting 
Peter  Sisco,  slave  of  Mattbeus  Bo- 

gart,  and 
Dinah  Sisco,  bis  wife,  slave  of  David 

Nagel 
Bill,    slave    of    Jobanis    Huybertse 

Blauvelt 
Jack,  slave  of  Daniel  Abrm.  Ver- 

veelen 

July  31,  1800. 
Sam  Freeman,  and  bis  son 
Will    Freeman,   slave    of    Margaret 
Graham 

October  23,  1800. 
Petrus  A.  Haring  and 
Elizabetb  Duryee,  bis  wife 

April  23,  1801. 
Daniel  Verveelen  and 
Rachel  Volk,  bis  wife 
Joseph,  slave  of  Abraham  Haring 
Jane,  slave  of  Jobanis  W.  Ferdon 

May  2^,  1801. 
Claas,  slave  of  David  Bogert 
Suke,  slave  of  Jobanis  11.  Blauvelt 


ROLL   OF   MEMBERS. 


155 


July  30,  1801. 
Jacobus  Ackerman  and 
Elizabeth  De  Pew,  his  wife 
Elizabeth  Haring,  wife  of  Cornelius 
J.  Blauvelt 

October  23,  1801. 
Daniel  Martin 
Gerrit  Nagel 

April  17,  1802. 
Betty,  slave  of  Peter  Perry 

August  7,  1802. 
Samuel  Verveelen 
Daniel  Verveelen  and 
Annetje  Rendel,  his  wife 
Abraham  Nagle  and 
Jannetje  Delamater,  his  wife 
Catharina  Verveelen 
Daniel  J.  Haring  and 
Annatje  Smith,  his  wife 
Jannetje  Meyer,  wife  of  Isaac  Dela- 
mater 

December  11,  1802. 
John  Waldron  and 
Catrina  Van  Winkle,  his  wife 
Gate,  slave  of  Domine  Lansing 

April  2,  1803. 
Abraham  G.  Blauvelt  and 
Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Abraham  C.  Mabie  and 
Fanny  Moor,  his  wife 
Rulef  Verbryck  and 
Maria  Haring,  his  wife 
Teunis  Blauvelt 
John  Young 

Susanna   Verbryck,    wife  of  Gerrit 
Edwards 

August  13,  1803. 
*Elizabeth  Haring,  wife  of  James  De 
Marest 
Douwe  Kuyper 
John  H.  Blauvelt  and 
Maria  Ver  Veelen,  his  wife 
Jack,  slave  of  John  A.  Blauvelt 
December  ^,  1803. 
*John  Haring,  Esq.,  and 
*Maria  Haring,  his  wife 


April  21,  1804. 
Aaltje  Yserman,  wife  of  David  Ed- 
wards 
David  Johanis  Blauvelt  and 
Antje  Sickels,  his  wife 
*Cornelius  Demarest 

August  11,  1804. 
*John  Taylor  and 
*Margaret  Waldron,  his  wife 

December  15,  1804. 
Peter  Merselis 
Jacob  Merselis 

April  13,  1805. 
Christian  Cammel  and 
Dirkje  Verveelen,  his  wife 
Cornelius  D.  Blauvelt 
Gerrit  Haring  and 
Sarah  Campbell,  his  wife 
John  H.  Bauta  and 
Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Catrina    Van    Winkelen,    wife    of 

Jacob  Merselis 
Maria  Nagel,   widow  of    Jacob  J. 

Blauvelt 
Susan,  slave  of  Abraham  Ferdon 

August  24,  1805. 
Abraham  Ekkerson  and 
Catrina  Smith,  his  wife 

December  7,  1805. 
Stephen  PouLense  and 
Catrina  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

April  26,  1806. 
Jacobus  Lent 
David  C.  Blauvelt  and 
Maria  Demarest,  his  wife 

April  12,  1807. 
*Aarie  Koning 

August  16,  1807. 
*Jacob  Haring  and 

*Phoebe  ,    his  wife,  both  from 

Paramus 


156 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


December  12,  1807. 
Rachel  Demarest,   wife  of  Jolianis 
Jacob  Blauvelt,  Jr. 

April  9,  1808. 
*Sarah  Christie,  wife  of  Domine  John 
Demarest 
Jacobus  Haldron  and 
Grietje  Demarest,  his  wife 

August  20,  1808. 
*Margrietje  Bogert,    wife    of    "  the 
candidate "  Samuel    Bogert  (see 
Corwin's  Manual) 

April  21,  1810. 

*Alexander  Montgomery  and 

*Agnes  Mulligan,  his  wife 
John  Isaac  Haring  and 
Margrietje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

Septef)iber  15,  1810. 
Isaac  De  Baan 
John  J.  Smith  and 
Ef  je  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

December  15.  1810. 
Phillis,  slave  of  Cobus  Haring 

September  5,  1812. 
Cornelius  Demarest  and 
Catrina  Haldron,  his  wife 
Catharine  Linsey 
*Lydia  Banta,  widow  of  Martin  Pou- 
lense 

April  30,  1813. 

Margrietje  Snyder,  wife  of  Abraham 
A.  Smith 

Sarah  Demarest,  wife  of  Abraham 
Aarijansen 

Catharine  Blauvelt,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham S.  Verveeleu 

September  4,  1813. 
David  D.  Blauvelt  and 
Lenah  Fowler,  his  wife 
Jacobus  J.  Demarest 
Jannetje  Ackerman,   wife  of  Joost 
Mabie 


December  18,  1813. 

John  D.  Haring  and 
Annetje  Smith,  his  wife 

April  16,  1814. 

Elizabeth  Perry,   wife  of    Jacobus 
Smith 

September  3,  1814. 

*Isaac  Smith  and 
*Rachel  Smith,  his  wife 
*Peter  Smith  and 
*Christina  Demarest,  his  wife 

September  16,  1815. 

Rebecca  Palmer,  wife  of  Hendrick 
Hennion 

August  6,  1816. 

Susanna  Smith,  wife  of  Augustine 
Van  Donk 

September  28,  1816. 

John  B.  Haring  and 
Catharine  Helm,  his  wife 
Cornelius  Jacob  Blauvelt  and 
Elizabeth  Leiddekker,  his  wife 
Cornelius  A.  Blauvelt  and 
Annatje  Zabriskie,  his  wife 
John  Abrm.  Haring  and 
Maria  Van  Orden,  his  wife 
Abraham  F.  Haring  and 
Grietje  Haring,  his  wife 
Harmanus  Haring 
Frederick  John  Haring  and 
Grietje  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Frederick  G.  Haring 
Cornelia  Haring 
Cornelius  Isaac  Blauvelt 
Gerrit  John  Haring  and 
Elizabeth  Ekkerson,  his  wife 
Johanis  C.  Ekkerson  and 
Maria  Haring,  his  wife 
Grietje  Haring 
■"■John  Johanis  Haring  and 
Maria  Bogert,  his  wife 
Teunis  Haring  and 
Elizabeth  Perry,  his  wife 


ROLL   OF  MEMBERS. 


167 


Cornelius  Johans.  Haring  and 
Elizabeth  Salyer,  his  wife 
Jacob  Jacob  Blauvelt 
Teunis  Isaac  Blauvelt  and 
Margrietje  Blauvelt,  his  -wife 
Johauis  Jacob  Blauvelt  and 
Catrina  Haring,  his  wife 
Esther  Brouwer,  wife  of  Cornelius 

IJoremus 
Jacob  Brinkerhoflf 
Maria  Alyee,  wife  of  Jacob  Ekker- 

son 

December  21,  1816. 

Maria  Bogert,  widow  of  Petrus  Ack- 
ermau 

Grietje  Serveut,  wife  of  Cornelius 
Haldron 

Grietje  Mabee,  wife  of  Peter  Ryker 

Elizabeth  Ryker,  wife  of  Jacob  Har- 
ing 

Sarah  Poulense,  wife  of  Jacob 
BrinkerhofE 

Maria  Haring,  wife  of  Gerrit  Bogert 

Marselis  Marselise 

Hendrick  A.  Blauvelt 

John  Poulense  and 

Martyntje  Haring,  his  wife 

Rachel  Blanch,  wife  of  Jacob  I. 
Blauvelt 

Aaltje  Blauvelt 
*Teunis  T.  Cuyper  and 
*Maria  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

xipril  6,  1817. 

Maria  Ekkerson,  widow  of  Corne- 
lius A.  Smith 

Rebecca  Talnian,  wife  of  Gerrit  C. 
Smith 

John  A.  Ferdon 

Elizabeth  De  Grauw,  wife  of  Gerrit 
Naugle 

Vrouwtje  Blauvelt,  wife  of  William 
De  Grauw 

Jacob  Ekkerson 

Letty  Ackerman 

William  Felter  and 

Maria  Bensen,  his  wife 


Charles,  slave  of  Peter  Perry 
*Dr.  Jonathan  D.  Marvin 

August  30,  1817. 
William  De  Grauw 
Catrina  Verveelen,  wife  of  Richard 
Blanch 

January  — ,  1818. 
*Cornelia  Dickinson 

August  29,  1818. 
Elizabeth  Peak,  wife  of  Abraham  D. 

Haring 
Jane    Verbryck,    wife    of   Richard 
Ellsworth 

December  19,  1818. 
Gerrit  C.  Blauvelt  and 
Annatje  Perry,  his  wife 
Gerrit  C.  Eckkerson  and 
Cornelia  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Elizabeth  Merselis,    wife  of    Abra- 
ham J.  Blauvelt 

March  —,  18l9. 
*Abraham  D.  Vervalen 

*Henrietta ,  wife  of  Dr.  Jonathan 

D.  Marvin 

Ap}'il  24,  1819. 
Phebe  Verbryck 

April  25,  1819. 
*Jane  Verveelen,  wife  of  Jacob  Pou- 
lense 
Gerrit  H.  Blauvelt  and 
Ef je  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
Sarah  Gisner,  wife  of  Jacobus  Lent 
Sarah  Lansing,    wife  of   John  T. 
Blauvelt 

April  15,  1820. 
Maria  Verveelen,  wife  of  Jeremias 

Bogert 
Marytje  Ekkerson,  wife  of  Jacobus 
Js.  Demarest 

December  2,  1820. 

Daniel  J.  Anderson 
Elsie  Earl,  wife  of  Abraham  D.  Ver- 
veelen 


158 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


April  14,  1821. 

*Daniel  Verveelen  and 
*Elizabeth  Naugle,  his  wife 
Cornelius  Haring  and 
Sophia  Demarest,  his  wife 
Margrietje  Ekkerson,  wife  of  Hen- 

drick  A.  Blauvelt 
Annatje    Smith,    wife    of  Wendell 

Van  Antwerp 
Maria  Myers,  wife  of  John  Jacob 

Blauvelt 
Agnes     Graham,     wife     of    James 

James  Blauvelt 
John  D.  Blauvelt  and 
Catharine  Serven,  his  wife 
Sam  Freeman  and 
Bet  Freeman,  his  wife 

August  25,  1821. 

Henry  Seaman 

April  20,  1822. 

John  J.  Haring  and 
Charity  Bogert,  his  wife 
William  Demarest 

August  24,  1822. 

Cornelius  Gysbert  Bogert  and 
Sarah  Onderdonk,  his  wife 

November  30,  1822. 

Maria  Blauvelt,  wife  of  John  A. 
Blauvelt 

Agnes  Verveelen,  wife  of  Daniel  Gid- 
eon Verveelen 

John  Demott 

September  20,  1823. 
William  Van  Dolsen  Haring 

December  6,  1823. 
Cornelius  Leidekker  and 
Margaret  Conklin,  his  wife 

Aiwil  16,  1824. 
Annetje  Cuyper,  wife  of  Johanis  J. 
Blauvelt 

1  George  Washinffton  Sneden  and  Bachel  Bogert  were  married  at  Tappan,  December  21, 
1805.     No  doubt  Rachel  Bogert  is  the  name  here  omitted. 


August  14,  1824. 

Rachel  Seaman,  wife  of  Henry  Sea- 
man 

September  4,  1825. 
David  D.  Ackerman  and 
Aaltje  Kuyper,  his  wife 

December  10,  1825. 
George  W.  Sneden  and 
'(name  not  given),  his  wife 

April  29,  1826. 
*Henry  Storm  and 
*Polly  Lawrence,  his  wife 

August  16,  1828. 
*Charles  Dickinson  and 
*Elsie  Lansing,  his  wife 

December  12,  1829. 

Ann  Van  Blarcom,  wife  of  Arthur 

Johnson 
Elizabeth  Mabie,  wife  of   Thomas 

Blanch 

April  17,  1830. 
James  P.  Blauvelt  and 
Ann  Smith,  his  wife 
Jannetje  Ekker,    wife   of  Albertus 

Peterson 
Elizabeth   Zabriskie,  wife  of  Albert 

Forshee 
Eliza  Bell 
Cornelia    Clark,    widow    of    John 

Briggs 

August  7,  1830. 
Justin  Demarest  and 
Margaret  Haring,  his  wife 
Cornelia  Naugle,   wife  of  Hendrick 
Verveelen 

December  4,  1830. 
John  J.  Blauvelt 
Henry  Vervalen 
Cornelius  P.  Haring 
Lydia  Haring,   wife  of    David    P. 
Haring 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


159 


April  16,  1831. 

Catharine  Edwards,  widow  of  Adri- 
an Onderdonk 

Margaret  Edwards,  wife  of  Peter 
Mabie 

July  30,  1831. 
*Ann  M.  Shatzel,  wife  of  Rev.  Isaac 

IJ.  Cole 
*Mrs.  Mary  Bogert 
*Albert  Bogert  and 
*Catharine  Westervelt,  his  wife 
*Catharine  Blauvelt,  wife  of    George*- 
Driscoll 
Gerrit  A.  Ekkerson  and 
Sophia  Bogert,  his  wife 
Deborali  Naugle 
Paul  Powles 

October  22,  1831. 

Mary  Ann  Bogert,  wife  of  Fred- 
erick A.  Haring 

Agnes  Verbryck,  wife  of  William 
Stothoff 

February  11,  1832. 
JohnS.  Verbryck  and 
Eleanor  Verveelen,  his  wife 
Gitty    Naugle,    wife    of    Abraham 
A.  Haring 

July  13,  1832. 
*Effee  Clark,  wife  of  Cornelius  Mabie 
August  11,  1832. 
Deborah  Havens 
Margaret  Van  Antwerp  {m) 
Samuel  Haring  and 
Sarah  Bogert,  his  wife 
Margaret  Edwards,  wife  of  Henry 

Smith 
William  Stothoff 

October  13,  1832, 
Harman  Hoffman  and 
Elizabeth  Edwards,  his  wife 


Elizabeth    Naugle,    wife  of    Peter 

Blackledge 
Fanny  Onderdonk,  wife    of  Henry 

D.  Bell 

April  13,  1833. 

Rachel  Depew,   wife    of  Abraham 

Blanch 
Wendell  Van  Antwerp 
Sally  Peterson,   wife  of    Cornelius 

Kent 

February  15,  1834. 

Tyne  Van  Gelden,  wife  of  Morris 
Bartow 

February  16,  1834. 

*Ann  M.  Shatzel,  wife  of  Rev.  Isaac 
D.  Cole 

June  21,  1834. 

John  Hennion 
Rachel  Tice 
*Cornelius  J.  Blauvelt  and 
*Elizabeth  Blauvelt,  his  wife 
*Ann  Eliza  Blauvelt,  wife  of  Isaac 

M.  Dederer 
*  John  A.  Blauvelt  and 
*Maria  Naugle,  his  wife 
*Jane  Van  Houten,  wife  of  James 

Schoonmaker 

September  20,  1834. 

Ann  Maria  Mabie,  wife  of  Samuel 

S.  Verbryck 
Rachel  Van  Antwerp 

March  14,  1835. 

Ellen  C.  Blauvelt,  wife  of  John  G. 
Blauvelt 

Rachel  Bogert,  wife  of  John  H. 
Brush 

Sarah  Brower,  wife  of  John  J.  Bo- 
gert 


Down  to  this  point  Domine  Lansing  had  kept  the  record. 
From  this  time  onward  it  is  kept  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  D.  Cole: 


160 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


John  I.  Bogert 
David  A.  Haring 


June  27,  1835. 

Ann   Smith, 
man 


widow  of  Isaac  Taul- 


ISTo  communion  again  till  April  10,  1836,  in  consequence  of 
the  building  of  the  new  church. 


First  Communion  in  new  church: 


April  10,  1836. 

Catharine    Haring,    wife    of    John 

Haring,  Jr. 
Aletta  Haring 

July  9,  1836. 

*John  G.  Blauvelt  and 

*Ann  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

*James  C.  Smith 

*Cornelius  J.  Smith  and 

*Sarah  Blauvelt,  his  wife 

*Martha    Blauvelt,    wife    of    Garret 

Blauvelt 
*Silas  Miller  and 
*Ann  Walsh,  his  wife 
Tunis  J.  Blauvelt 

January  1,  1837. 

*Joshua  Brokaw,  "  teacher  " 

*Mrs.  Ann  Miller 

*Miss  Catharine  Dickinson 

MarcJi  25,  1837. 

Eliza  Margaret  Aymar,  wife  of  Tu- 
nis J.  Blauvelt 
Alexander  Rankin 

July  2,  1837. 

*Eleazar  Lord  and 
*Ruth  Thompson,  his  wife 

October  7,  1837. 

Jacob  Riker  and 
Leah  Powles,  his  wife 
Mary  Ann  Blauvelt 


Maria  De  Clark  (m),   wife  of  John 

Outwater 
John  Flierboom  and 
*Agnes  Van  Derbeek,  his  wife 

December  29,  1837. 

Hannah    Hopper,  wife  of    William 
Ackerman 

January  6,  1838. 

John  V.  B.  Johnson 
Henry  P.  Stephens  and 
Leentje  Peterson,  his  wife 

March  81,  1838. 
Miss  Martina  Haring 

July  — ,  1838. 

■* Joseph  J.  Blauvelt  and 
*Margaret  Carlock,  his  wife 

October  6,  1838. 

Magdalene  Fortier,  wife  of  John  G. 

Concklin 
Maria  Acker,  wife  of  John  P.  Huy- 

ler 
*Hezekiah  O .  Seymour  and 
*Mary ,  his  wife 

April  5,  1839. 
John  T.  Blauvelt 

Sally  Ann  Van'Antwerp  (m),  wife  of 
Peter  Haring 

July  6,  1839. 

Elizabeth   Perry,  wife    of  William 
Ferdon 


ROLL  OF   MEMBERS. 


161 


Octobers,  1839. 

Mary  Bogert,  wife  of  Abraham  A. 
Blauvelt 

Effy  Naugle,  wife  of  James  Ellis 
Van  Antwerp 

Catharine  Myer,  widow  of  Corne- 
lius A.  Eckerson 

*    July  4,  1840. 
Frances  Wood,  wife  of  James    P. 
Smith 

January  1,  1841. 

*James  P.  Smith 
Margaret  Myers 

April  d,  1841. 

James  Schoonmaker 

Jane  Mabie,  wife  of  John  V.  B. 
Johnson 

Mary  Ann  Sickels,  wife  of  Corne- 
lius C.  Demarest 

July  3, 1841. 

Cornelius  C.  Demarest 

Margaret  Depew,  wife  of  Peter  De- 
pew 

Catharine  Peterson,  wife  of  Jacob 
Perry 

October  1,  1841. 
*Jacob  Perry 
*William  Poe  and 
*Lydia  Van  Antwerp,  his  wife 

April  2,  1843. 
Peter  Riker 

April  1,  1843. 
Isaac  Sloat 
Catharine  Blauvelt,  wife  of    John 

Demott 
Cornelius  J.  Holdrum  and 
Elizabeth  Depew,  his  wife 
David  Cole 
Caroline  Elizabeth  Cole 

July  1,  1843. 
Maria  Blauvelt,    wife    of   Barney 
Huyler 

11 


September  30,  1843. 
Margaret  Smith,    wife  of    John  J. 
Blauvelt 

April  6,  1844. 

Maria  Demarest,  wife  of  Garret  Au- 

ryansen 
John  A.  Hopper  and 
Catharine  Demarest,  his  wife 

July  — ,  1844. 

*Abigail  D.  Wyckoff,  wife  of  David 
Cole 

January  1,  1845. 
Abraham  Quackenbush  and 
Sarah  Cole,  his  wife 

April  3,  1845. 
*Sarah  Peak,  widow  of  Roelof  Haring 
*Polly  Hopper,  wife  of  Abraham  B. 
Haring 

July  3,  1845. 
♦Isabella  Stewart,  wife  of Gier- 

heart 
*Stephen  R.  Clark  and 
*Maria  Van  Buren,  his  wife 
*Eliza  Clark,  wife  of  Henry   Fair- 

clough 

January  1,  1846. 

♦Catharine  R.  Tice,  wife  of  Frederic 

R.  Ilulbert 
Phoebe  Jane  Marthus,  wife  of  God- 

f  red  Amos 
Cornelius  G.  Blauvelt  and 
Ann  Maria  Schoonmaker,  his  wife 

July  2,  1846. 

Nicholas  Lansing  Blauvelt 

October  4,  1846. 

Cornelius  R.  Haring  and 
Mary  Westervelt,  his  wife 

January  1,  1847. 
Douglass  Swan 
Cornelius  Van  Antwerp 


162 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


July  2,  1847. 

*Maria  Van  Antwerp 

April  1,  1848. 

♦Keziah  Demarest,  wife  of  John  P. 

Haring 
^Cornelia  M.  Thompson 

July  1,  1848. 

Hichard  Van  Dien 
Godf  red  Amos  (m) 

December  3,  1848. 

Mary  Van  Schaick,  wife  of  William 
B,  Oddie 

January  6,  1849, 

Peter  T.  Haring  and 
Rachel  Blauvelt  (m),  his  wife 

Ma/rch  31,  1849. 

Peter  Depew 

October  6,  1849. 

Abraham  A.  Haring 
James  A.  Haring  and 
Maria  Naugle,  his  wife 

January  5,  1850. 

David  S.  Demarest  and 
Nancy  A.  Baldwin,  his  wife 
James  A.  Eckerson  and 
Jane  Wortendyke,  his  wife 

*Miss  Susan  B.  Shourt 

*Miss  Jean  Orr 

April  6,  1850. 

*Thomas  Llppincott  and 
^Catharine  Cole,  his  wife 
*Margaret  Llppincott 
Catharine  Amelia  Cole 

October  5,  1850. 

Maria  Elizabeth  Blauvelt 
Henry  Keyser  (to)  and 
Dorothy  Stromberger,  his  wife 
Frederick  Meierhoff  and 
Margaret  Butcher,  his  wife 


January  4,  1851. 
*Aletta    Blauvelt,    widow  of    Jacob 
Marselis 

April  5,  1851. 
Emma  Louisa  Lippincott 
Margaret  Ann  Cole 

July  5,  1851. 
Juliana  Cole,  wife  of  Jacob  B.  Bo- 

gert 
David  Edwards 
*  Albert  M.  Bogert  and 
*Cornelia  Haring,  his  wife 

October  4,  1851. 
Eliza  Hogenkamp  (m),  wife  of  Nich- 
olas L.  Blauvelt 
Sarah  Ann  Smith 
David  J.  Blauvelt  and 
Margaret  Haring,  his  wife 

April  8,  1853. 
Jane  Demott,  wife  of  Isaac  Sloat 
Maria  Smith,  wife  of  James  D.  Ed- 
wards 

October  1,  1853. 
*Peter  Socteman 

April  1,  1854. 
Elizabeth   Haring,    widow    of  Dr. 

Outwater 
Jane  Ann  Bartow  (m),  wife  of  Sa- 

linus  Conklin 
Margaret  "W.  Bartow,  wife  of  John 
Brandt 

June  29,  1854. 

Harriet  Demaray,  wife  of  Tut- 

tle 

July  1,  1854. 
Maria    Mabie,   wife    of  Gilbert  D. 
Blauvelt 

September  30,  1854. 
Samuel  A.  Haring  and 
Sarah  Onderdonk  (?«).  his  wife 
Maria     Westervelt    (to),     wife     of 
Abram  C.  Eckerson 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


163 


January  6,  1855. 
*Margaret  Eckerson,  wife  of  Abram 
C.  Haring 

April  30,  1855. 
*Mrs.  Mary  Terhune,  widow 

January  4,  1856. 
*Gabriel  Hill  and 
*Elizabeth  Naugle,  his  wife 
*Ann  Maria  Mabie,  'wife  of  Samuel 

S.  Verbryck 
Samuel  S.  Verbryck  ^ 

Bridget  Ferdon,  widow  of  John  A. 

Haring 
Eliza  Haring  {m),  wife  of  Nicholas 

Haring 
Amelia  Helen  Gesner,  wife  of  David 
A.  Haring 

April  3,  1858. 
Maria  Mabie,  wife  of  Cornelius  P. 

Mabie 
Elizabeth  P.  Smith 
James  D.  Edwards 

July  3,  1858. 
John  P.  Huyler 
Leah  Catharine  Smith 
Amelia  Estelle  Lippincott 

October  2,  1858. 
Sophia    Bogert,    widow    of    Weart 
Westervelt 

January  1,  1859. 
John  Haring,  Jr. 
Henry  Hennion 
John  T.  Haring  (m)  and 
Rachel  Blauvelt  (?«),  his  wife 
♦Sarah  E.  Huyler  (/«),  wife  of  Peter 
Westervelt 

April  2,  1859. 
Eliza  Hennion  (m),  wife  of  William 
Devoe 
*Catharine  L.  Willsey,  wife  of  Daniel 

A.  Vervalen 
*Rachel    D.    Huyler,   wife  of   John 

Henry  Stephens 
*John  Cook 


November  23,  1859. 
Ann  Maria  Youmans,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Kirby  Verbryck 

October  6,  1860. 

Wilhelmina  Blauvelt 
*Peter  Robertson  and 

*Margaret ,  his  wife 

*Hiram  Slocum  and 

*Elizabeth  Van  Vechten,  his  wife 

July  5,  1861. 

Maria  Bogert,  wife  of  Cornelius  J. 

Blauvelt 
Catharine   Blauvelt 

October  4,  1861. 
Willemina  Haring 
*John  P.  Blauvelt 

April  3,  1862. 

Hannah  Riker,  widow  of  Abraham 
Riker 
*Howard  Hasbrouck  and 
*Mary  Ladenbergh,  his  wife 
*John  B.  Haring 
*Catharine  De  Noyelles 
*Mary  H.  Dudley 

January  2,  1863. 
*Abraham  D.  Vervalen 

July  2,  1863. 
*James  Schoonmaker  and 
*Jane  Van  Houten,  his  wife 

January  2,  1864. 
Sarah    Catharine  Bogert,    wife    of 
Henry  Blanch 

April  1,  1864. 

*Sarah  Holmes,  wife  of  Rev.  George 

M.  S.  Blauvelt 
*Elizabeth  Murray 

July  1,  1864. 

^Juliana  Cole,  wife  of  Jacob  B.  Bo- 
gert 

*Teresa  Vervalen,  wife  of  Abraham 
D.  Vervalen 


164 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


December  30,  1864. 
*Mary  E.   Haring,  wife  of  Abraham 

H.  Blauvelt 
Mary  Vervalen,  wife  of  Isaac  Tor- 
boss 
Althea  Ucilla  Garretson 

April  1,  1865. 

Eliza  Ann  Banta  {m),  wife  of  Garret 
Van  Blarcom 

George  Mann  Haring 

*Mrs. Henry 

*William  Rogers  and 
*Hester  Emma  Smith,  his  wife 

J"«Z2^  1,1865. 
*John  S.  Verbryck  and 
*Eleanor  Vervalen,  his  wife 
*Jane  E.  Verbryck 
Eliza  Briggs,  wife  of  Richard  Van 

Dien 
Anna  Van  Dien  {m),  wife  of  Tunis 
Tallman 

September  30,  1865. 
*Freeman  B.  Lewis  {m)  and 
♦Cornelia  M.  Lawrence  (in),  his  wife 
Maria  Bogert  Naugle 
Anna  Maria  Iserman,  wife  of  David 

I.  Tallman 
Cornelia  M.  Louise  Lewis  {in) 

January  6,  1866. 
Sophia  Ferdon,  wife  of  David   W. 

Kipp 
Catharine  Josephine  Van  Vechten  {m) 
Margaret  Ann  Blauvelt  (m) 
Garret  Van  Blarcom  (m) 

March  30,  1866. 
Benjamin  Kirby  Verbryck  and 
Mary  Ann  Best,  his  wife 
Margaret  Blauvelt,  wife  of    James 

Bartow 
James  J.  Stephens,  M.D.  {m) 
Clara  Margaret  Stephens  (m) 

Jane  30,  1866. 
*Mary  C.  Lippincott,  widow  of  Ja- 
cob B.  Wood 
Mary  Clark  Sherburne 


October  6,  1866. 
Margaret   Demarest    (m),    wife    of 
Abram  B.  Haring 
*Mrs.  Susan  B.  (Shourt)  Day 

January  5,  1867. 
John  Eckerson  Demarest  and 
Mary  Rhodes,  his  wife 

April  6,  1867. 
Ellen  Edwards,  wife  of  John  Haring 
Eliza  Ferdon  Bartow 
*Sarah  C.  Lippincott,  wife  of  John 
H.  Wood 

July  6,  1867. 
*Leah  Demarest,  wife  of  Tunis  Haring 

Api'il  4,  1868. 
*Jane    Moore  (m),  widow  of  Daniel 

Blauvelt 
*Jane  E.     Hedges,     wife     of    Rev. 

George  M.  S.  Blauvelt 

July  3,  1868. 
Ann  Maria  Myers  {m) 
Emma  Clark,  wife  of  Peter  Johnson 
Ellen  Jane  Johnson 
Benjamin  Wood  Keyser  {in) 

October  3,  1868. 
Florence  Slocum  (in) 
Annie  Hennion,  wife  of  A.  Bogert 

Eckerson 
Mary  M.  Vervalen 

January  2,  1869. 
Albert  Bogert  Eckerson 
Leah  Anna  Westervelt 

April  3,  1869. 
*Michael  Allison  and 
*Harriet  M.  Allison,  his  wife 
*Hattie  C.  Allison 
*Michael  Allison,  Jr. 
*Mrs.  Anna  P.  Westervelt 
*Mrs.    Julia    Ann    Myers,     wife    of 
Abram  Myers 

James  H.  Brower  and 

Catharine  Blauvelt  (m),  his  wife 


ROLL  OP   MEMBERS. 


165 


Mrs.  Ann  Amelia  BrinkerhofE 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Doremus  (m) 
Mrs.  Maria  G.  Ryerson  {m) 
Henrietta  L.  Wood 
Mary  Caroline  Wood 
Emma  C.  Wood 
Emma  R.  Best 
James  Bartow  (m) 
Abraba  B.  Haring  (m) 
George  Bartow 
Edwin  Eckerson 
Oscar  Devoe 
Jacob  B.  Blauvelt  (m) 
George  Alexis  Knapp 
Lawrence  Campbell  (m) 
Samuel  L.  C.  Teachman 
George  W.  Devoe 

July  3,  1869. 

Margaret  Haring 

December  ^\,  1869. 

Anna  Lent,  wife  of  C.  J.  Van  Ant- 
werp 

December  31,  1870. 

Abraham  F.  Haring  (m)  and 
Frances  Emily  Powell  {m),  his  wife 

April  1,  1871. 
Emma  F.  Haring  {m) 
Sarah  Ann  Zabriskie  (???),   wife  of 
Albert  D.  Bogert 

September  30,  1871. 

Catharine  Ferdon  (m),  wife  of  James 
Blauvelt 

Thomas  Lippincott  Wood 
*John  Allen  and 
*Sarah  Allen,  his  wife 
*Sarah  Elizabeth  Allen 
*Daniel  W.  Allen 

December  29,  1871, 

*Isaac  Blauvelt  Haring  (m) 

October  5,  1872. 

*Edwin  Lydecker  (w) 


January  4,  1873. 
*Isaac  B.  Gildersleeve  and 

Emma ,  his  wife 

Margaret  A.  Johnson,  wife  of  George 

C.  Taylor 
Abraham  C.  Holdrum  (w)  and 
Mary  Leah  Hopper  (/«),  his  wife 
Catharine  Ann  Holdrum  (m) 

April  5,  1873. 
Mary  Anna  Sherwood,  wife  of  Rich- 
ard Smith 
Benaiah  Y.  Frost  and 
Margaret  L.  Blanch,  his  wife 

October  4,  1873. 
*Mrs.  Mary  V.  A.  Ostrom 
January  4,  1874. 
Eliza  Hennion  Devoe  {in),  wife   of 
John  Parsells 

April  4,  1874. 
*Mrs.  Catharine  Cutwater 
Edwin  Cutwater 
Isaac  Haring 
Mrs.  Rachel  M.  Post  (m) 
Rebecca  H.  Devoe  {m) 
Garret  F.  Haring  (m) 

April  5,  1874. 
Mary  Amanda  Haring,  wife  of  Isaac 

Haring 
Mrs.  Matilda  Van  Wart  (m) 
Julia  Anna  Devoe  (m),  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Haring 
lola  Devoe 

July  3,  1874. 
*  James  B.  Gruman  (m)  and 

*Philippina  Augusta (m),his  wife 

*Sarah  De  Baun,  wife  of  Cornelius  E. 

Eckerson 
*Mrs.  George  Gathercole 
Cornelius  S.  Eckerson 
Catharine  Elizabeth  Eckerson  (m) 

October  31,  1874. 
Emma  Cutwater 
*Cornelius  Van  Wagoner  and 
*Sarah  Jacobus,  his  wife 


166 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


January  2,  1875. 
Elizabeth  Haring  (m) 
Jemima  Haring  (m) 

December  31,  1875. 
John  W.  Vervalen 
William  A.  Banta  (m) 
*Mary  E. ,  wife  of  John  W.  Ver- 
valen 

Aprill,  1876. 

Jacob  M.  Amos  (m)  and 

Margaretta  L.  Demarest  (m),  his 
wife 

Mary  Ellen  Blauvelt  (m),  wife  of 
Abraham  Blanch 

Caroline  Haring  (m),  wife  of  Corne- 
lius Haring 

Fanny  Elizabeth  Myers 

Api-il  2,  1876. 
Mary  Elizabeth  Westervelt  (m),  wife 

of  John  William  Haring 
Daniel  W.  Bogert  (m) 
Jane  Ann  Demott 
Maggie  Demott 
Maria  Blauvelt  Hasbrouck 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Cleveland  (m) 

July  1, 1876. 
Amelia  Estelle  Blauvelt 
John  G.  Bell  and 
Ann  Briggs,  his  wife 

October  7,  1876. 
Jennie  Edwards  Taylor 
*Lawrence  Mann 
Kate  Leslie  Lewis  (m) 

Ma/rchZi,  1877. 
Evelyn  Demaray  Johnson 

October  6,  1877. 
*William  Devoe  (m) 
James  A.  Ottignon  (m)  and 
Adele  Louise  Ottignon  (m),  his  wife 

January  5,  1878. 
Isaac  Blauvelt  and 
Maria  Ann  Blauvelt  (m),  his  wife 


April  6,  1878. 

Ellen  Maria  Haring,  wife  of  James 
C.  Holdrum 

Mary  Agatha ,  wife  of  John  C. 

Lehn 
*Albert  Bogert  Eckerson  and 
*Annie  Hennion,  his  wife 
*Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Kilbourn 
*James  E.  V.  Herring  (m)  and 
*Sarah  C.  Conklin  {m),  his  wife 
*Theodore  Burrowes  {m)  and 
*Catharine  Matilda  Haring  (m),  his 
wife 

July  6,  1878. 

*Hester  Eva  Demarest,  wife  of  David 
L.  Mabie 

January  5,  1879. 

Margaret  Hopping  {m),  wife  of  Eli- 
sha  Ruckman 

Ajyril  5,  1879. 

William  Hutton  Blauvelt 
George  Eckerson 

Maria  Huyler  Yeury,  wife  of  John 
A.  Haring 

Jidy  5,  1879. 
David  J.  Blauvelt 

January  3,  1880. 

Abraham  C.  Eckerson  and 
Matilda  Demarest,  his  wife 
Hiram  P.  Tremper 
Samuel  C.  Dawson  (m) 

April  3,  1880. 

Sarah  Ann  Thompson  (in) 
Elizabeth  Perry  Haring  {m) 

Aprils,  1881. 

John  J.  Flierbaum  (m)  and 

Rachel (m),  his  wife 

Jacob  Blauvelt  Eckerson  (m)  and 
Margaret  Ann  Haring  (m),  his  wife 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


167 


December  m,  1S81. 

*H.  M.  Busser 
*Antoine  Blanken  and 

*Cecilia ,  his  wife 

*E.  M.  A.  Busser  and 
♦Jacoba ,  liis  wife 

January  1,  1882. 
Isaiah  Stokes 

Aprill,  1882. 
William  F.  Conklin  (m) 

October  6,  1883. 
Herman  Henry  Lachmund  (m)  and 
Pauline  Drews  (m),  liis  wife 
Matilda  Lydecker  Haring  (in) 

January  5,  1884. 
*Maria  L.   Schenck,  widow  of  Isaac 

V.  D.  Williamson 
*A.  Jeanette  Barnes,  wife  of  W.  Hall 

Williamson 

April  6,  1884. 
*Maria  L.  Coming  (??;) 
*Rachel  Ann  Demarest  (m),  wife  of 

Jacob  B.  Blauvelt 
*Ellen  J.  Riker  (?«),  wife  of  George 
Van  Zilen 

Walter  C.  Bross 

Winfield  Scott  Winant  (w) 

Ira  C.  Bross 

George  B.  Coming  (/«) 

Abram  A.  Riker 

Fannie  De  Wolf 

Joseph  A.  Allen 

Cornelius  B.  Smith  (m) 

William  H.  Haring  (m) 

Ira  B.  Haring  (tn) 

Isabella  Goodheart  Devoe  (m) 

Laura  R.  Smith  (w) 

Maria  II.  Bradley  (m) 

Cornelius  H.  Bross  and 

Hannah  Maria  Riker,  his  wife 

Tunis  A.  Haring  (m)  and 

Leah  Ann  Bogert  (m),  his  wife 

Mary  Hopper  Haring 


James  H.  Smith  (m)  and 

Elizabeth  Blauvelt  {m),  his  wife 

Andrew  H.  Haring  (m)  and 

Sarah  Matilda    Westervelt  (m),  his 

wife 
Peter  C.  Collignon  (??i)  and 
Isabella  Eleanor  Ward  (in),  his  wife 
Catharine  Delia  Collignon  (m) 
Richard  B.  Haring  (m)  and 
Mary  Gertrude  Banta  (m),  his  wife 
Salinus  Conklin 
Jennie    M.    Brandt     (m),    wife    of 

George  A.  Knapp 
Peter  W.  Mabie  (m)  and 
Catharine  A.  Mabie  (in),  his  wife 
Abram  Blanch  (m) 
Sarah  K.  Haring 
William  Asbury  Blakeney(w) 
Pauline  Rathmerhusen 
Harry  Ryerson  (m) 

July  5,  1884. 
James  E.  Demarest  (m)  and 
*Susie  A.  Ferdon  (m),  his  wife 

April  4,  1885. 

Mosley  Green 

July  11,  1885. 
*Walter  Winant ' 

MarcJi  6,  1886. 
John  William  Horn 

June  5,  1886. 
Maria  Moore,  widow  of  William  A. 
Mabie 

September  5,  1886. 
Abraham  C.  Haring  (m) 
*Emma  Stokes  (m) 

December  4,  1886. 
*Maria  Antoinette  Poules,   wife    of 
Petrus  Kline 

March  5,  1887. 
*Cornelius  De  Pew  and 
*Mary  Elizabeth  Berry,  his  wife 


'  Is  now  a  Reformed  church  pastor  at  Walden,  N.  Y. 


168 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


June  4,  1887. 

*Mary  P.   Thompson  {m),    wife  of 

Abram  Smith 
Isabella  Gruman  {m) 

June  2,  1888. 
*Mrs.  Abram  C.  Haring  (m) 
*Edward  Winant  (m)  and 
♦Elizabeth  Lawrence,  his  wife 
*Margaret  Lawrence  (m) 

October  6,  1888. 
David  A.  Mabie  (m)  and 
Ann  Amelia  Seaman  (w),  his  wife 

March  2,  1889. 
Alice  Lloyd  Bolmar 

August  31,  1889. 
Cornelius  E.  Demarest  (m)  and 
Catharine  H.  Demarest  (m),  his  wife 

Map  31,  1890. 
Stephen  Winant  (m) 

December  6,  1890. 
*Minnie   A.    Blauvelt    (m),    wife  of 
Cornelius  B.  Smith 

February  27,  1891. 
*Elizabeth  Alexander  (m),   wife    of 
Abner  Ketchum 

March  5,  1892. 
*Cornelius  De  Pew  (m)  and 
*Mary  Elizabeth  Berry  {m),  his  wife 
Cornelius  D.  Bell  {m) 

March  5,  1898. 
David  P.  Haring  (m) 


May  28,  1893. 

Lottie  Serena  Amos  (rn) 
*Merrit  M.  Moore  {m)  and 
*Jennie  Earle  Fluellin  (m),  his  wife 
*Rodney  E.  Howell  (m) 

September  3,  1893, 

*Wilhelmina  Firkan  (m),  widow  of 

George  Wiestrow 
Joseph  M.  Lane  and 
Lizzie  Haring,  his  wife 

November  26,  1893. 

Matthew  Freeman  Ross  (to)  and 
*Emily  Morrow  (m),  his  wife 

February  24,  1894. 

*Sarah  E.  Sanders  (m),  widow  of  John 
Mann 

May  27,  1894. 

Grace  Augusta  Gruman  (to) 
Henry  D.  E.  Moore  {m)  and 
Sarah  Jane  Porter  {m),  his  wife 
*Grace  Coe  (to),  wife  of  Rodney  E. 

Howell 
*Elise  Bruhner  (to),  wife  of  Abraham 
Maze 

Aug%ist  26,  1894. 
Abraham  Maze  (to) 

September  9,  1894. 

*Helen    M.    Thomson   (to),   wife  of 

Rev.  M.  N.  Oliver 
*Henry  R.  Hope  (m)  and 
*Maria  H.  Williams  (to),  his  wife 


